WIMBORNE Town hope to get their faltering play-off push back on track when they begin their hectic festive period at home to Bridgwater Town on Boxing Day (3pm).

The ambitious Cuthbury outfit sit ninth in Southern South & West and trail the fifth and final play-off berth by nine points on the back of a dip in form over the past month.

But boss Steve Cuss reckons 12 days without a fixture will have done his players the power of good as they bid to make up ground over Christmas.

Cuss said: “We have lost three of our past four games but we are going into the game against Bridgwater after a long break and that could be an advantage for us.

“We have four games coming up over the next 10 days so it is important we start picking up points.”

Injured wingman Jamie Davidson remains sidelined, while striker James Stokoe is suspended with youngsters Liam Donachy and Dan Burton-Hemmings on standby.

Magpies: (from) Harvell, Arnold, Maybury, Oliver, Wilson, Costello, Middleton, Blake, Webb, Sainsbury, Kemble, Gamble, Griffin, Roast, Donaghy, Burton-Hemmings, Ackerman (g/k).

  • Bashley will look to secure their first league victory on home soil this season when they entertain basement rivals AFC Totton (1pm).

The New Forest outfit have lost eight Southern Premier games in a row at Bashley Road since grabbing a 2-2 draw against Truro City during the opening week of the season.

Second-bottom Totton, managed by ex-Bash boss Steve Riley, won the reverse fixture 3-1 in August and sit five points clear of their hosts.

Bash: (from) George, Roberts, Flint, Strickland, Marden, Gazzard, Morris, Blackmore, Colson, Brookes, Joyce, Satterley, Odam, Soetan, Ferguson, Edwards, Jones.