WIMBORNE Town edged past Cross-Stour rivals Poole Town on Saturday in a pre-season friendly.

Ex-Dolphin Harry Baker was on hand to convert a tap-in late on to seal a 1-0 win at the BlackGold Stadium.

Will Fletcher led the line for Poole in the absence of Toby Holmes, who was away on holiday, whilst manager Tom Killick continued the experiment of Jack Dickson and Luke Holmes at centre-back and right wing-back respectively.

The hosts came close early on when Fletcher’s header across the box was almost squeezed home by the arriving Josh Carmichael, with the Magpies’ defence doing just enough to thwart the midfielder.

Wimborne responded in kind via Lewis Beale, who after being fashioned in by Luke Burbidge, curled an effort over the bar from inside the box.

Beale and Carmichael were also involved in their side’s next chances. Former Eastleigh man Beale was denied by Luke Cairney from a tight angle, before Carmichael saw his free-kick pushed away from danger by Wimborne goalkeeper Tom Parker-Trott.

Dickson’s marauding run into the box from defence almost produced an opportunity for the home side, but the cut-back for Fletcher ran short and was dealt with by Ashley Wells.

In the second-half Fletcher must have thought he scored when his looping header left Parker-Trott stranded, only for the ball to clang off the far post and away from danger.

As the game approached its conclusion Poole made numerous changes, including swapping starting ‘keeper with youngster Will Butler.

Late on Butler denied Harry Morgan from range, but the teenager was unable to prevent Baker from swooping in and tapping home the rebound.