MANAGER Steve Cuss admitted to having had mixed feelings after seeing Wimborne Town finally end their FA Cup first-hurdle jinx following a Cuthbury thriller yesterday.

Cuss was “delighted” with the effort and endeavour of his players as Mark Gamble’s clinical hat-trick earned them a place in the first qualifying round for the first time in four years.

But he was also somewhat miffed at the dismissal of Jon Blake for two yellow cards, with a one-match ban ruling out the midfielder for the next round at Frome Town on September 13.

Magpies needed a late winner from Gamble to see off the South West Peninsula Premier Division outfit after Blake had received his marching orders nine minutes into the second half.

Cuss told the Daily Echo: “I had no complaints with the first booking but the second one was extremely harsh. Jon is a whole-hearted player and when he sees the ball, he goes for it.

“It was an aerial challenge and their player just got to the ball before Jon who headed the back of his head. There was nothing deliberate and, in my mind, it should not have been a yellow card.

“I have always been honest in my assessment of yellow and red cards and I thought it was harsh because Jon was a fraction late.”

Magpies, bidding to erase the memory of losing at home in the past three seasons to Godalming, Fareham and Hamworthy United, reached the break on level terms after Gamble’s fifth-minute opener had been cancelled out by Liam Eddy’s leveller.

And although they regained the lead following Blake’s dismissal, skipper Chris Reski restored parity for the Cornishmen five minutes from time to set up a grandstand finale – with Gamble having the final say in the closing stages.

Cuss added: “It was heart-stopping to watch and was a great game. We got off to a terrific start before they came back into it and I was thankful for half-time.

“We changed things after Jon had been sent off and you had to give credit to our players because they were superb. They dug in and battled hard.

“When you have a player like Mark Gamble in your side, you have always got a chance of getting goals. He is still coming back to full fitness after an ankle injury but it was a fantastic hat-trick. His finishing was excellent and he was backed up well when we changed the system.

“We were delighted to go through and the boot will be on the other foot when we play Frome because they are a Premier Division side so we will be the underdogs. It is a game we can enjoy and have a real go at.”

Magpies: Harvell, Arnold, Maybury, Biles (Davidson, 56), Costello, Blake, Griffin, Wilson (Kemble, 60), Webb, Gamble, Stokoe. Unused subs: Brimson, Moore, Powell, Phelps, Horton (g/k).