WIMBORNE Town star Micky Hubbard has laughed off taunts from rival fans suggesting the Magpies are like a Poole reserve team.

The number of former Dolphins players in the Cuthbury ranks sparked some lively online banter between the neighbouring Dorset clubs.

Some claimed Wimborne were little more than a Poole second string – but midfield maestro Hubbard was quick to dismiss that talk.

He quipped: “If we are Poole Town reserves, then we have got a helluva reserve team because we are second with 15 points.”

Asked if it had acted as motivation in Magpies’ flying start to the Southern League Division One South & West season, Hubbard told the Daily Echo: “Maybe, deep down inside. Poole Town reserves makes me laugh when I see it.

“I speak to some of them and they still wish me good luck.”

Playmaker Hubbard, a key part of Poole’s rise in recent years, became one of a host of Tatnam men to switch allegiances. With ex-Poole assistant boss Steve Cuss in charge at Cuthbury, Hubbard, Adam Costello, Kevin Gill, Tom Jeffes and Steve Smith have all made the move.

Bolstered by those and other additions, Magpies are enjoying by far their best step four campaign since promotion from the Wessex Premier in 2010.

Going into tomorrow’s trip to Clevedon Town (3pm), Wimborne are only headed in the standings by title favourites Poole.

Former Cherries trainee Hubbard added: “When I came in, we would lose games because we were getting beaten up but now it seems we have learned the tough side of the game.”

Goalkeepers Jason Harvell and Dan Ackerman, who have both been struggling with injury, are set to return for Wimborne after David Elm made an emergency midweek cameo. Shaun Brian could return but Jeffes is rated doubtful.

Elsewhere, leaders Poole host Shortwood at Tatnam. Steve Brown (hamstring) faces a late fitness test and Glenn Howes (Achilles) is still out.

Magpies: (from) Harvell, Arnold, Cole, Peprah-Annan, Brian, Costello, Blake, Gill, Hubbard, Jeffes, Davidson, Webb, Kemble, Smith, Maybury, Roast, Sainsbury, Ackerman.

Dolphins: (from) Hutchings, Baines, Spetch, Walker, Emmerson, Dibba, Baggridge, Clarke, Preston, Burbidge, Kelly, Devlin, Brooks, Richardson, Benssaouda, S Brown, Blair, Wilson, O’Donnell, T Brown.

  • Bashley boss Frank Gray was last night hoping to sign a right-back from a Conference South club to replace departed Jack Smith.

Mark Gamble and Rob Gradwell are both major injury doubts ahead of Bashley’s Southern Premier home clash with unbeaten Leamington. Goalkeeper Stuart Moore is expected to return from injury.

Bash: (from) Kearn, Strickland, Oliver, Casey, Middleton, Richardson, Finlay, Hill, Stokoe, Jenkinson, Knight, Foster, Vokes, Farren, Gazzard, Lompato-Pires, Moore.