WIMBORNE Town boss Matty Holmes revealed his squad would be rewarded with a trip to the races after surpassing their 58-point target set at the start of the season.

Saturday’s 5-2 victory over Barnstaple Town meant Magpies hit 59 points – eclipsing their effort of 57 from the previous campaign.

And although a big day out at Newbury looms for players and staff, Holmes is eager for his charges not to come off the bridle just yet.

He told the Daily Echo: “We congratulated the boys and said the points target had been hit. At the start of the season we said if they got the points we would take them to a race day as a reward.

“We are tight on money, we can’t pay win bonuses but that is their reward. We will most probably go in May.

“We did it last year and it’s a reward for the whole club. I’m delighted they have done it again because it is a good team bonding day.”

Visitors Barnstaple made it heavy going for the hosts at Cuthbury when goals from Oliver Booth and George Nancekivell cancelled out Toby Holmes’s first-half double.

But the clinical Wimborne frontman netted once more to make it 3-2 and record his second hat-trick in as many games.

Luke Burbidge and Ben Walker then got their names on the scoresheet to ensure Magpies romped into the winner’s enclosure for the sixth time in eight league outings.

The Wimborne boss added: “It wasn’t a great performance from our point of view. We had been playing really well over the past couple of months but Barnstaple were a tricky side.

“It was a tough game and we rode our luck early on. They fully deserved to peg us back at 2-2.

“But once we got the third goal we woke up a bit and dominated the final part of the game. It was a real test but I am pleased we hit the points target.”

Magpies are now third in the division but Holmes has continued to play down his team’s chances of securing a play-off spot.

“We will have a meeting on Thursday with the boys and see what the next stage is – play-off talk won’t be heard of because nine games and 27 points is still a lot to play for.

“I would like us to get to the highest Wimborne total, which is 61 from a few seasons ago. If we can better that, I would be delighted.”

Magpies make the trip to runaway league leaders Taunton Town on Tuesday (7.45pm).

Magpies: Benfield, Maybury, Hester, Oldring, Arnold (Davidson, 78), Kellaway, Francis (Stokoe, 64), Holmes (Walker, 50), Holmes, Burbidge, Lovell. Unused subs: Bayston, Cole.