FORMER Wimborne favourite Gareth Barnes marked his comeback for the club with a superb late goal as they produced a riveting second-half performance to crush Alresford 5-2 at home.

James Stokoe fired Magpies into a 1-0 interval lead before Alresford equalised just after the break.

But further strikes from Scott Joyce, Paul Roast (penalty), Kevin James and Barnes got Magpies back to winning ways despite a second Alresford consolation.

It was Barnes’s first Wimborne appearance since he had rejoined them for a fourth spell in late October after leaving Wessex Premier rivals Christchurch.

He had been sidelined through injury up until Saturday, but quickly showed the Cuthbury faithful what they had been missing.

Magpies assistant-manager Darren Powell was delighted with the immediate impact Barnes made, and also with the performance of another substitute, Ben Thomson, who has also recently rejoined the club from Hythe and Dibden.

Powell said: “Gareth stepped off the bench, came on with 11 minutes to go and looked lively.

“We bought Ben back because of his delivery. He is deadly from set pieces like corners and free kicks because he delivers the ball so well.

“He put his cross from a corner straight on Barnesy’s head and bang it was in the back of the net.”

Wimborne: Hutchings, Wilson, Lockyer, Roast, M Walker, Wyatt, Green, Stokoe (Thomson 79), Joyce (Barnes 79), James (Whitcher 83), McCormick. Unused subs: Haysom, Walker-Harris.