WIMBORNE Town are on the brink of relegation after defeat at the hands of Salisbury last night.
Former Cherries and Poole Town midfielder Charlie Davis struck from long-range to inflict defeat on Wimborne, leaving them 14 points adrift of safety at the bottom of the Southern League Premier South.
If third from bottom King’s Langley win this weekend, defeat at home to Dorset rivals and fellow relegation contenders Dorchester on Saturday would ensure Magpies cannot beat the drop.
Manager James Stokoe made one change to the side that recorded a pulsating 2-2 draw with Beaconsfield on Saturday, with defender Connal Morrison making way for Regan Mason.
The game’s sole goal came early on, with Davis finding the back of the net after just five minutes.
Former Salisbury goalkeeper Gerard Benfield did well to deny Calvin Brooks driving shot after a direct run down the right-flank, but Wimborne were powerless to prevent Davis from picking up the lose ball on the edge of the area, before the wing-back fired home for his eighth goal of the season.
Despite taking an early lead, Salisbury were unable to truly control the game, with neither side troubling either goalkeeper.
Another former Magpie almost got on the scoresheet as Antonio Diaz saw a floated chip cleared off the line, but that was the closest the first-half came to producing a second goal.
Benfield was in fine form to deny Darren Mullings shortly before the hour mark, hooking the Whites captain’s effort over the bar.
Unable to muster much in response, Wimborne fell to a 13th loss of 2022, and a fifth consecutive home game without a win.
Magpies have won just three games all season, now needing to win all their remaining games to have any hope of a miraculous escape from relegation.
Wimborne: Benfield, Mason, Arnold, White, Morgan, Bartlett, Beale (Young, 74), Bedford, Kellaway (Gidaree, 77), Roberts, Palmer
Unused subs: McWilliams, J Freak, Mitchell (g/k)
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