MATTY Holmes is urging his Wimborne players to treat their final game of a a "fantastic" campaign like a "cup final".

Magpies boss Holmes will be back in the dugout at Cuthbury for the visit of struggling Slimbridge tomorrow, after the conclusion of his three-match stadium ban.

He has, therefore, been forced to rely on Twitter updates to keep track of his team's recent fortunes and spent last Saturday on a scouting mission at Southern South & West rivals AFC Totton.

Magpies have lost their past four games but remain firmly on track to achieve the highest finish in the club's history.

Holmes told the Daily Echo: "I am thankful I can be back for the last game. It has been a difficult time watching Twitter and seeing the scores coming in!

"But you learn by your mistakes and you have to get on with it… I have certainly learned from my mistake.

"The boys have done the club proud, though. The points tally hasn’t reflected their performances in the past few matches, which is a real shame."

Victory over Slimbridge would guarantee Wimborne remain in 11th, one position higher than their best finish to date.

Lose, however, and they could drop as far as 14th in the final standings.

"I am trying to gee everyone up and we will be well up for it – that is for sure," said Holmes.

"I want it to be like a cup final. It would be a real shame to finish 13th or 14th after the season we have had.

"The remit was to stay up and the boys have excelled themselves, with top players missing at times.

"I would love the local people to get down and support the boys. If we can finish in our highest position it would be a fantastic achievement."

Magpies led Salisbury 2-1 with seven minutes to play of the sides' Easter Monday clash, before Steve Claridge's second-placed team summoned a late blitz to win 5-2.

And, with up to seven first-team players unavailable for the meeting with Slimbridge, Holmes is likely to have to turn to the same players who performed so manfully earlier in the week.

He said: "We still have boys suffering from Monday but they will play and put a shift in.You cannot go into any game at this level taking anything for granted.

"It has been the most competitive league for years. There are no gimmes, and for us to be in this position in such a competitive league is fantastic.

"It will be tough against Slimbridge – even though they might be down to the bare bones like us. It is a game where we will need to be fully focused and work hard to get a result."

Magpies (from): Benfield, Walker, Penny, Maybury, Oldring, Kellaway, Stokoe, Prior, Bayston, T Holmes, Neale, Lovell, Cann, Traynor, D Holmes, Collins (g/k).