BOSS Steve Cuss has praised his attacking arsenal for ensuring Wimborne Town had not been affected by Mark Gamble’s injury absence.

The Magpies sharpshooter, who plundered 30 league goals during his debut season at Cuthbury, was forced to miss the opening three matches of their Southern League Division One South & West campaign with an ankle problem.

Gamble hit the comeback trail when he was given a five-minute cameo at the end of Tuesday’s 3-0 home victory over Sholing.

The Ballymena-born poacher is back in contention for tomorrow’s trip to Cinderford Town (3pm) but with his frontline firing Wimborne to an unbeaten start, Cuss insists there is no need to rush back his star striker.

Cuss told the Daily Echo: “Regardless of form, Mark would not have been brought back before he was right. He has established himself as a big player for us but, thankfully, our other attacking options have made very bright starts.

“Matt Kemble has stepped up to the plate and scored in all but one of his games and George Webb and Sam Griffin have been involved in the goals from wide areas.

“Jamie Davidson has impressed me since he came back. He had an accident on holiday and, while the injury itself wasn’t too serious, it disrupted his pre-season and left him playing catch up.

“He made his first start on Saturday and clearly benefitted from the game time because he was very impressive against Sholing.”

Cuss names Gamble in an unchanged squad with James Stokoe (ankle) providing the Magpies manager with his only fitness concern.

Magpies: (from) Harvell, Arnold, Maybury, Oliver, Biles, Blake, Costello, Griffin, Wilson, Webb, Kemble, Gamble, Stokoe, Davidson, Brimson, Powell.

  • Bashley, fresh from securing their first point of the season against Cinderford on Tuesday, travel to Tiverton Town (3pm).

The Hampshire outfit locks horns with Dorset rivals Wimborne at Bashley on Bank Holiday Monday (3pm).

Bash: (from) Maher, Morris, Hall, Oldring, King, Bosma, L Speechley-Price, Cullingford, Booker, Brading, M Speechley-Price, Aurow, Roushbaiani, Morse, Dunne, Field.