THE Magpies managed to snatch a last-gasp equaliser after a listless display in their season opener at Cuthbury in a match that saw them play the last 20 minutes with ten men after influential defender Paul Roast was dismissed for swearing at the referee's assistant.

In truth, Wimborne were a pale imitation of the side that won so many friends last season, as their normally attractive brand of football was replaced by a lethargic display, often nullified by a willing and able Hamble defence, but all too often nullified by the Magpies themselves.

They started brightly enough with Stuart Cannie and Andy Jones looking particularly comfortable, but it was the final ball that was lacking on at least half-a-dozen occasions, with the emphasis on too much passing and not enough innovation.

After nothing more than polite enquiries of Hamble keeper Harris, he was finally tested in the 25th minute after some neat interchange from Andy Barham, Jones, Gareth Barnes and Guy Dipper. From the resultant corner, Harris did very well to bravely dive at the feet of Cannie, doing just enough to put him off and fire wide.

Hamble then went straight up the other end via a static Magpies defence, culminating in Steve Whitcher heading in from close range to put the visitors one up.

Other than a superb 30-yard strike from Andy Jones on 31st minute mark that the keeper did well to save, Wimborne went into the break knowing a massive change of attitude was required if they were to turn things around.

Wimborne started the second half with a lot more purpose, but the problem still remained the delivery of the final ball, as time and time again they managed to create without converting. Their hopes were dashed even further in the 69th minute when the normally genial Paul Roast was sent off for swearing at the referee's assistant.

Roast can count himself very unfortunate because, rather than a deliberate foul-mouthed tirade, it was more of a comment made within the realms of a fiercely competetive football match. It was a comment that would have been ignored by officials that actually knew what goes into playing semi-pro football, but his crime was to direct the comment towards one of a trio who knew all the rules but nothing about the game.

The sending off seemed to galvanise the Magpies and, after a period of sustained, relentless pressure, they were duly rewarded when Mark Smith swept home from close range in the 90th minute to square things up.

Incredibly, in the five minutes of added time, Magpies had three clear-cut appeals for penalties, one of which looked an absolute certainty and in a supreme irony, on a day that the inept Magpies deserved very little, the inept officials gave them exactly that.

Wimborne Town: Kearn, Parkin, Jones, Powell, Roast, Barham, Oldbury, Smith, Barnes, St. Cannie, Dipper(Sturgess68), Unused subs: Sc.Cannie, Phillipson-Masters.