MANAGER Steve Cuss was keen to take the positives from Wimborne Town’s bittersweet FA Cup exit at Frome Town yesterday.

Magpies made most of the running against their higher-ranked opponents at Berkley Road but had their wings clipped when Tom Golledge and Matt Smith plundered late goals to fire the hosts to a 2-0 success.

Wimborne’s Tom Biles and Sam Griffin had efforts cleared off the line during a tight first half and the visitors upped the ante after the break, having a strong penalty shout waved away before striker Matt Kemble saw his shot acrobatically tipped on to the post by Darren Chitty.

Frome finally came to the party late on and signalled their intent when Ben Thomson hit the woodwork and Golledge somehow lifted the rebound over the crossbar.

But the reprieve was short-lived as Thomson’s centre found Golledge to net the decisive opener with 12 minutes to play before Smith wrapped up the result as Wimborne pushed for a leveller.

Cuss told the Daily Echo: “I thought the performance was excellent. We created numerous chances but just couldn’t put one away and that was the only part missing from a complete display.

“I was delighted with the players, not just with how they played but the fact we more than matched a Premier Division side away from home.

"The biggest disappointment was having felt we had done enough to get a replay or to even have won it.

“When you get past that and reflect on it, though, it is very encouraging to play so well and with that behind us we have every reason to believe we can bounce back next week.”

Magpies: Harvell, Arnold, Maybury, Oliver, Costello, Brimson (Powell, 84), Griffin, Biles (Stokoe, 80), Webb, Gamble, Kemble. Unused subs: Phelps, Field (g/k).