MAGPIES star James Stokoe believes his side owe it to the Cuthbury faithful to strive for the highest possible league position this term.

Wimborne have all but secured their Southern League status with basement boys Andover firmly rooted to the bottom of Division One South and West – and just one team facing the drop.

But Stokoe insists his team must continue their improved form.

Speaking ahead of tomorrow’s home clash against Almondsbury Town (3pm), he said: “We have just eight games left to play this season, so we owe it to the manager and supporters to do as well as we can and finish as high up the table as possible.”

Manager Alex Browne has named an unchanged squad but Dominic Allen faces a late fitness test.

In the Southern Premier, Bashley entertain bottom-of-the-table Halesowen Town.

Magpies: (from) Malara, Yelland, Cole, Lloyd, Frampton, Roast, Green, Stokoe, Allen, Davidson, Chudy, Barnes, James, Hunt, Wilson, Walker-Harris.

Bash: (from) Elm, R Hill, Oliver, Middleton, Whitley, Knowles, Smith, Mason, Allen, Gamble, Collins, T Hill, Ferrett, Murray, Brookes, Prodomo.

• Poppies boss Kenny Vaughan is eyeing a top-three finish to go with the club’s upcoming Wessex League Cup final appearance.

Vaughan has named an unchanged squad for his side’s Premier Division home clash against lowly Fawley.

Poppies booked their place in the final with a 2-1 extra-time win over Bemerton and Vaughan is hoping his men will have recovered from their midweek heroics.

He said: “Fawley are a banana skin. We’ve only got a small squad, most of whom played 120 minutes on Tuesday.

“I’m hoping they will have recovered, fitness wise, for tomorrow’s league game, which we must win to maintain our hopes of finishing in the top three.”

Elsewhere, New Milton host Alton Town after their 2-0 defeat at Newport (IOW) on Wednesday.

Poppies: (from) Harvell, Arnold, Crutcher, Byrne, Taylor, Hogan, Pickett, Phillipson-Masters, Wyatt, Blake, Rowley, Green, Kemble, Rudd, Hodgson, Vaughan.

Linnets: (from) Amey, L Winzar, Colman, Petty, Pidgley, T Winzar, Fox, P White, Lawrence, Lever, Booker, H White, Baldacchino, Mott, Gariga, Fields.

• In Wessex One, Verwood Town visit East Cowes following their 2-0 win over Stockbridge on Wed-nesday night. Second-half strikes from Bradley Aspin and Mike Haskell claimed the points.

Elsewhere, Ringwood Town travel to Petersfield Town.

Potters: (from) Adams, Wrixton, King, Scott, Richards, Haskell, Aspin, Dyer, Webb, Gajic, Elysee, Freeman, Lynch, Dear, Murray, Fawcett.

Ringwood: (from) Taylor, Clark, Pierson, Yeats, Eley, Marks, Hetherington, Schwartz, Howes, Leadbetter, Fleet, Chattey, Chalk, Payne, Wells, Morrell.