BOSS Matty Holmes hailed the strong mentality of 10-man Wimborne Town after they had opened their Southern League West campaign with a battling 3-1 win over Bishops Cleeve.

Goals from Toby Holmes, Matt Oldring and Jack Lovell got Magpies off to a flying start at Cuthbury despite having to play more than half the contest with 10 men as Billy Maybury was sent off just before the interval.

But boss Holmes was happy with the way his side stuck to the task.

He told the Daily Echo: “I was really pleased with the start. I think that’s all any manager in any division wants, a good start and a good three points to get yourselves going with a bit of confidence.

“They started brightly playing their passing game but I thought, once we got to grips with that in the midfield area, some of our combination play was fantastic. I was delighted with the boys.”

Magpies opened the scoring on 11 minutes when Luke Holmes slid the ball in for striker Toby Holmes, who opened his account for the campaign with a neat finish.

Luke Holmes was then the provider of the hosts’ second. His corner, delivered to the near post, was met by defender Oldring to turn into the net.

Disaster then struck for the hosts however, as they were reduced to 10 men just before the interval. Maybury was adjudged to have fouled his man inside the area, Bishops Cleeve’s Jack Sklenar stepped up to dispatch the spot-kick.

But, despite being a man light, Wimborne made the game safe in the second half. On 61 minutes, Jack Lovell raced on to Sam Davidson’s pass and tucked the ball into the net to wrap the game up at 3-1.

“Last season we might have wobbled a little bit and it could have been three points dropped,” said manager Holmes.

“I was definitely delighted with the mentality of the boys and the way they grouped together, stuck together and worked really hard.”

Giving his take on the red card, the Cuthbury boss added: “We tried to play from the back and Billy just lost his footing and brought the lad down.

“I think we felt a bit hard done by.

“Their lad nipped in front and Billy made a little bit of contact. If anything, it was a free-kick on the edge but the lad went inside (the area). The initial contact was just outside then he went into the box and went over.

“The referee deemed Billy was the very last man that brought him down, and it was inside.

“I have said to Billy not to worry about it because, playing that way, we will make mistakes at times.”

Magpies: Benfield, Hartley (Penny, 79), Davidson, Maybury, Oldring, Francis, Stokoe, L Holmes (Kellaway, 62), T Holmes (Mogg, 83), Cann, Lovell. Unused subs: Bayston, Walker.