Report | City earn the right for commanding win

City were able to break down Wimborne Town's early resistance to secure a commanding 5-0 success at The KMM Energy Stadium.

As both teams sized each other up in the opening exchanges, the fourth minute saw Elis Watts attempt to play through Joe Hanks following a neat passage of play only for Owen Roundell to be alert to make an important block.

At the other end, the visitors forced an early corner off Michael O’Regan, which was scrambled clear, before Keiran Thomas, making his 100th appearance in City colours, did well to deny Cam Munn.

There was a booking for visiting skipper, Sam Jackson, for kicking Watts’ boot away.

Some slick play from the visitors ended with Max Bustamante fouled by Jamal Mohammed to concede a free-kick in a promising position just outside the area, but the defensive wall did its job.

A loose ball was picked up by Watts who linked up with Hanks and the one-two saw Watts go through only to fire straight at the ‘keeper for our first chance of the game with 16 minutes on the clock.

The visitors were not allowing us time to settle on the ball as chances remained at a premium. An intelligent ball from Harry Pinchard almost played in Rylie Siddall as he looked to make something happen.

A free-kick from Joe Ryan was delivered dangerously into the City area, but the ball evaded everyone as it flashed just wide.

As the floodlights came on, Watts looked to light up the game as he made good progress out wide on the right only for his low ball to be cleared by the visitors’ back-line.

The opening goal arrived on 26 minutes when Pinchard did well once more to find Morgan Lewis out on the left and his teasing low cross was stroked home by Hanks to make it 1-0.

Within three minutes we doubled our advantage when a stray pass was seized upon by Siddall whose low ball was turned home by Kane Simpson and then moments later a long ball forward was missed by Sam Roberts and Simpson took full advantage to claim his second and our third.

The visitors were left shell-shocked after what had been a solid opening 25 minutes or so from them.

We almost extended our lead when Pinchard fed Simpson out wide and his cross found Siddall who was thwarted by an alert block from Ben Rodwell in the visitors’ goal.

With our confidence flowing as the interval approached, Pinchard played Hanks through and as his eyes lit up with the opportunity in front of him, the ‘keeper saved his side as he blocked well.

As the resulting corner came in invitingly, it ended with Hanks firing over as he took a knock for his trouble which required treatment.

The half ended with a rare foray forward for the visitors as Munn fired well over as we went into the interval holding a three-goal advantage.

There was a perfect start to the second half as Watts broke through within seconds of kick-off, rounded the ‘keeper and then teed up Simpson for his hat-trick as he sent the ball and half-time substitute, King Baidoo, flying into the net to make it 4-0.

Some blistering pace from Baidoo saw him cut in from wide and play the ball across the face of goal for Siddall who was denied bravely by Sam Jackson and as the resulting corner stayed alive, the ball eventually found its way out to Watts who curled home from distance with a sweet strike.

A delicious pass from Thomas saw him find Simpson who used his power to break into the area before being crowded out as we looked to add to our lead.

A strike from Will Fletcher was tipped over by Jared Thompson as the visitors looked to reduce the arrears in the final 20 minutes.

The first taste of action for Liam Cross after entering the fray in place of Thomas saw him get in a cross that deflected off Drew Eccott-Young and onto the woodwork as the corner that followed saw Baidoo’s deft header land wide of the target.

An effort from distance by Josh Carmichael dipped just over before Lewis did well for City on the left to find Simpson but the visitors had numbers back to deal with the threat on this occasion.

Thompson did well to push away a powerful drive from Bustamante as he managed to keep his clean sheet intact as City secured a deserved three points.

CITY | J. Thompson, Lewis, O’Regan, Wildig (Ali 72), Watts, Thomas (Cross 65), Hanks (Baidoo 46), Pinchard, Mohammed, Simpson, Siddall. Subs not used: Tye, C. Thompson.

Booking(s): -

Goal(s): Hanks (26), Simpson (29, 30, 47), Watts (61)

Attendance: 1,167