WIMBORNE Town suffered a third successive league defeat after being trumped 2-1 by Taunton Town in a scrappy and often ill-tempered Southern South & West clash at Cuthbury.

Injury-hit Magpies found themselves on the back foot for most of a poor first half and it came as no surprise when visiting defender Steve Kingdon bundled home after the hosts had failed to clear an inswinging free kick.

Jamie Davidson saw his goal-bound header cleared off the line in the second half but the Peacocks doubled their advantage through Jamie Short.

George Webb’s low angled drive gave the home side hope with eight minutes to play but it was too little too late with Wimborne’s Jon Blake dismissed for a second bookable offence late on.

Magpies: Harvell, Arnold, Maybury (Grose, 81), Oliver, Costello, Blake, Webb, Davidson, Burton-Hemmings, Kemble, Griffin. Unused subs: Stokoe, Roast.

  • In the Wessex League Premier Division, Christchurch led twice before being held to a 2-2 draw at reigning champions Blackfield & Langley, while Hamworthy United were undone by Zach Glasspool’s brace in a 2-0 home defeat to Alresford Town.

Bournemouth Poppies returned home from Horndean empty handed after Nathan Paxton’s solitary strike sealed a 1-0 win for the hosts at Five Heads Park.

In Wessex One, a brace from top scorer Kabba Jack was not enough for New Milton Town who lost 4-2 at home to title-chasing Petersfield Town, while Ringwood Town lost 4-1 to Cowes Sports.