Wimborne Town 0
United 3
(McGavin 17′, Stobbs 22′, Lapslie 82′)
United booked themselves a place in the Emirates FA Cup Third Round Qualifying draw on Saturday, when they ran out 3-0 winners at Wimborne Town.
Two goals in quick succession in the first half by Brett McGavin and Jack Stobbs saw Gary Johnson’s men go into half time with a two goal advantage, before eight minutes from time in the second half, Tom Lapslie made it 3-0.
United Manager Gary Johnson made two changes to the side that secured a 2-1 victory over Chelmsford City in the league last weekend, with Rhys Lovett coming in for Mark Halstead in between the sticks, and Ryan Hanson replacing Shaun Donnellan, who was named on the bench.
In the opening stages of the game it was United gloveman Lovett who was forced into action. With two minutes on the clock the home side broke into the left edge of the United box before a shot by Jez Bedford, heading towards the top-left corner, was well saved by Lovett.
Four minutes later however, down the other end it was the men in yellow who looked to open the scoring. After being played through towards the far-post, Brad Ash rattled the underside of the crossbar, with the ball crossing the line, but the referees assistant had already flagged for offside.
Following a period of end-to-end play, United grew into the game and began to exploit pockets of space and on 17 minutes, McGavin put the side ahead. The ball was played back to United’s number 14 on the edge of the Wimborne box, with the midfielder firing his effort low and beyond Albert White, 1-0 United.
Three minutes later it seemed as if the men in yellow had doubled the advantage, when a free-kick by Jack Stobbs saw a runner beyond the far-post bundle the ball into the net as the referees assistant flagged for offside.
On 22 minutes, Gary Johnson’s men made it 2-0. After picking up the ball in the middle of the Wimborne half, Aaron Jarvis played a long ball out to Stobbs on the right flank who controlled the ball well before driving towards the Wimborne goal and firing home.
Despite the two goal deficit the home side continued to try and work their way into getting a goal back. In the 26th minute Matt Neale steered a low effort goal-ward, but Lovett produced a great save to deny the hosts. Four minutes later it was United striker Jarvis who went close; after exchanging passes with Stobbs, Wimborne goalkeeper White was caught off of his goal-line and Jarvis saw his opportunity, but could only put his lobbed effort wide. 2-0 to United after the first 45.
In the second half it was the hosts who were quick out of the blocks as they looked to get a goal back. On 48 minutes United lost possession midway inside their own half which enabled Neale to pick up the ball and drive towards the United goal, however, the dangerous attack saw Wimborne’s number 11 fire his effort wide. In the 54th minute it was the same man again who positioned himself well, but could only fire over.
Six minutes later it looked as if Gary Johnson’s side were going to make it three. A superb long pass by McGavin saw the ball move from the centre circle to level with the start of the Wimborne box, met by the run of Stobbs, who squared for Jarvis, who appeared to lose his balance and could only fire wide.
In the 78th minute Bedford worked his way through the United half, before Dean Moxey blocked his strike. From the resulting corner the ball found its way to Sam Jackson at the far-post, who tried to bundle home, but was denied by Lovett who was quick to react and produce an excellent low save.
As both sides continued to battle going into the final ten minutes of regular time, it was Gary Johnson’s men who struck. Substitute Lewis Collins played Lapslie through, with the midfielder bundling home.
With moments left on the clock, after producing the assist minutes before, Collins went close to creating a goal of his own, after his shot from the edge of the box crashed off the crossbar. After some late pressure from the home side, in the five minutes of additional time, United saw the game out, and with that, put themselves in the hat for the Emirates FA Cup Third Round Qualifying.
WIMBORNE TOWN: 1. Albert White, 3. Sam Jackson, 6. Connor Cocklin, 9. Lewis Beale (15. Remy Rees-Dotton 62′), 10. Jez Bedford, 11. Matt Neale, 12. Ben Scorey (8. Harry Morgan 69′), 14. Jack Lovell (20. Josh Carmichael HT’), 16. Ben Satterley, 17. Harry Baker, 18. Sam Roberts.
SUBS NOT USED: 4. Billy Walker, 5. Scott Arnold, 13. Ross Flitney.
UNITED: 22. Rhys Lovett, 4. Tom Lapslie, 6. Ross Marshall, 7. Ryan Hanson (16. Shaun Donnellan 75′), 9. Aaron Jarvis (19. Luke Pearce 72′), 11. Brad Ash (10. Lewis Collins 62′), 14. Brett McGavin, 18. Will Jenkins Davies, 21. Dean Moxey, 23. Ollie Tomlinson, 27. Jack Stobbs.
SUBS NOT USED: 1. Mark Halstead, 3. Dan Martin, 17. Dillon De Silva, 24. Calum Thomas.
Attendance: 1,852