Non-league: Wimborne heading in the right direction says boss Cuss

Cuss was appointed as successor to Alex Browne in April 2011 and recently became a director at the Southern League club.

Victory over Larkhall Athletic yesterday was Cuss’s 51st league win as Magpies boss and saw them move to within seven points of the Division One South & West play-off zone.

Wimborne were helped on their way by two goalkeeping errors, with Jon Blake profiting from the first and Matt Thorne doubling their lead with an own goal from the second.

Leading marksman Mark Gamble put the finishing touches to their 3-0 victory at Cuthbury when he bagged his 10th league goal of the season in the second half.

Asked about his 150-game anniversary, Cuss told the Daily Echo: “I’ve enjoyed every game. It’s a great club to work for. I involve myself with everything and we have put lots of things into the infrastructure. We finished the game with four under-18s on the pitch and that is something we are developing constantly.

“There is no magic wand in terms of a big playing budget and we can’t just go out and get players with substantial Southern League experience. We have to develop our young players and that is what I have done in the four years I have been here and that is the way it will continue.

“In terms of progress, we have made small progress. We are getting better each year in terms of points and we reached the first round of the FA Trophy this year. Our highest points total was 55 in each of the past two seasons and that is a target for us to reach as quickly as we can. We think we are a growing club and going in the right direction.”

Discussing the win over Larkhall, Cuss added: “To get two goals in the first 10 minutes was a great platform to go on and really control the game and I thought we did that really well. The start was crucial. They are a good side with a strike-force that score goals but we were never really under any threat in terms of conceding a goal.”