Poole Town and Wimborne Town light up playoff race

Poole Town and Wimborne Town have been flying high in the Southern Premier League South this season.

The Magpies went on a ten-game unbeaten run as the late surge last season saw them finish tenth, the highest league position in the club’s 147-year existence.

Wimborne are consistently pushing their limit with every jump up the table meaning a record position for the Magpies, currently sitting in 4th place.

After a record-breaking year, Wimborne head coach Tim Sills believes the project is not finished.

He said: “We’ve made a lot of history since we’ve been here and it’s important for this group of players to create their own little bit.”

Sills also accredited their impressive run to the local supporters saying: “It drives you and gives you a bit of a lift – it gives us a huge lift to play here. (The Wyatt Homes Stadium)”

That translates to performances on the pitch, as the ‘Black and White Army’ are 13 games unbeaten in the league, having not lost a game there since February.

Both teams carried form over from the back-end of last season and are on track to face each other in the play-offs.

The Dolphins completed the great escape in style, winning six out of their last nine matches to jump from the relegation zone to a 14^th placed finish.

Their flying start was undoubtedly helped by striker Shaquille Gwengwe who is the league’s top scorer with 11 goals, four more than table-toppers Walton & Hersham’s Johl Powell in second place.

The Malawian joined the Dolphins from fellow Dorset side Dorchester Town last summer, and has been one of the most notable players in England’s seventh tier.

The first league meeting between the two sides will be just after Christmas when Poole will visit the Wyatt Homes Stadium on 27^th December.

With AFC Bournemouth’s stellar performance in the Premier League, it has been a great year for football across the divisions in Dorset.

Both groups of fans will be hoping that it will be their side who are playing in the National League South come summer 2026.