United are back on the road this weekend, as they start their FA Cup journey when they travel to Dorset to face Wimborne Town.
Gary Johnson’s side will be looking to begin a run in the FA Cup this weekend, as they face former Gull Tim Sills’ Wimborne Town team.
Who’s the boss?
Tim Sills needs no introduction to the Yellow Army having played here in a three year spell between 2007 and 2010, and scoring in the 2-0 Play Off Final victory at Wembley in 2009 against Cambridge United. In all Sills played over 100 matches and scored over 30 goals in his time at Plainmoor.
The former striker had a career totalling nearly 700 appearances and scoring over 200 goals for clubs such as Basingstoke Town, Kingstonian, Hereford, Aldershot Town and Torquay United.
The 43 year old started his managerial career at Hamworthy United in 2019, leading the club to the Wessex Premier League title in the 2021/22 season, amassing 99 points and suffering only one defeat, with that season also seeing Sills lead his side to an FA Vase Semi Final spot. He left Hamworthy to join Wimborne Town in October 2022.
Player to watch
Harry Baker is in his second season at Wimborne Town, having been signed prior to the start of the 2022/23 season by former manager James Stokoe. In their eight league and cup games so far this season, Baker has found the net six times, including last week in the Magpies 3-3 draw with Exmouth in the FA Trophy. The forward has also played for Weymouth, Poole Town, Salisbury & Barnstaple and joined the Dorset club from Frome Town.
How have they been doing?
Wimborne Town will be looking to better their fifth place finish in the Southern League Division One South, and got the current campaign off to a flying start, beating Bishops Cleeve away from home 5-2. A 1-1 home draw with Exmouth Town followed, before they claimed their first home win and clean sheet of the season when winning 2-0 against Malvern Town. Last time out in the league saw the Magpies grab a 2-1 win away at Bashley to leave them in 3rd place on 10 points after four games.
Wimborne have already seen plenty of cup action beginning in the FA Cup Qualifying Round where after a 0-0 home draw against Paulton Rovers, Tim Sills’ side won the replay 2-0 to set up an away tie at Tiverton Town. A Harry Baker goal was the difference as the Magpies won 1-0 to set up todays game against United. The Dorset clubs involvement in the FA Trophy ended last weekend, when despite an entertaining 3-3 draw at Exmouth Town, Wimborne would be eliminated from the competition following a 5-3 penalty shoot out defeat.
Live commentary will be available via TUFC Radio HERE.