WIMBORNE TOWN DEVELOPMENT 0

BLANDFORD UNITED 4

BLANDFORD United ended a poor run of form to beat Wimborne Town Development 4-0 and progress to the Dorset & Somerset Air Ambulance Senior Trophy quarter-finals.

Prior to the game, Josh Feirn’s Royals had conceded 14 goals in three league matches and lost five of their previous six Dorset Premier League contests.

However, Blandford put that record to bed with a commanding first-half display which saw them go 3-0 up.

Blandford were content to sit back and soak up early Wimborne possession before claiming the lead.

Brad Pike’s shot from distance was only parried by the Magpies’ goalkeeper as far as Elliot Manson, who showed great vision and composure to square ex-Weymouth striker Mark Ford to tap in.

READ MORE: Blandford United star Mark Ford discusses playing as a striker and goalkeeper

Wimborne continued to enjoy large spells with the ball but Blandford carried a greater incisiveness as Callum Goddard burst through the home defence before drawing a foul in the box.

Up stepped Pike to drill home for 2-0 – but Blandford were not done there.

Blandford reverted to a more direct style and their third goal came from a goal-kick as Ford’s flick-on released Goddard who finished with aplomb into the bottom corner.

After the break Blandford were happy to afford Wimborne possession and the Royals finished the job in the 75th minute.

Ford swung a corner toward the back post where Steve Smith was waiting to head in Blandford’s fourth.

There was one sour note for Blandford as Aaron Lawes saw red late on, but the Royals were otherwise undisturbed to set up a quarter-final meeting at in-form Dorchester Sports in December.

Speaking to Echosport, Feirn said: “It was a massive, massive relief to finally get a win again. We needed it badly.

“I won’t lie. For the first time since being in the job we were going into that game and I was thinking: ‘How are we going to be today? Are we going to make these silly mistakes we have been making?’

“We know the mistakes we have been making, but we keep making them. The Sherborne game (8-2 loss) in midweek was the worst game I’ve ever been involved in.

“We just did everything wrong. We were arguing with each other.

“We changed a few things. I got all the boys together early at the clubhouse and we had a team lunch, just to try and change the mentality, get the attitude right. It seemed to help us a lot.

“Going forward, I don’t think we can afford to be feeding the lads every week before games but it certainly helped!”

Royals: Park, Beckerley, Oliver, Smith, Arnett, J Ford, E Manson, Goddard (Norman 60), McCarthy (Lawes 70), B Pike (Mason 60), M Ford.