DEFENDER Gary Middleton insists resolve on the road is required if Wimborne Town are to make their play-off dream a reality in the new year.

Magpies go into their crunch clash at Tiverton Town (3pm), who occupy the fifth and final play-off spot, full of festive cheer after smashing in six goals at Evesham United on Saturday.

However, on the back of a largely bleak December, the Cuthbury outfit still trail Tivvy by seven points having played two games more.

But despite the odds seeming stacked against Wimborne’s quest for a place in the Premier Division, experienced centre-half Middleton believes Steve Cuss’s men can still make a late surge – providing they can be more frugal on foreign territory.

Discussing Wimborne’s recent form, Middleton told the Daily Echo: “Like a few teams below us, we still have a chance (of the play-offs) and it helps that the confidence is there after such a good result at Evesham.

“Every team has a rough spell and, with a bit of luck, December was ours. A lot of the goals we conceded were poor and came from silly mistakes but no one has really cut us open.

“A lot of it has come down to concentration and consistency and if we can cut out the mistakes at the back we have the firepower to win matches against anyone.

“Our home form has been pretty good and we have scored a fair few goals away as well.

"It will be tough but if we can get rid of the errors and pick up points from our away games then we can still get in the play-offs. The lads are still very confident.”

Meanwhile, the Daily Echo understands Magpies have made an official approach for Weymouth defender Nathan Walker, who was transfer-listed following a dispute with the Terras board last weekend.

Magpies: (from) Harvell, Arnold, Oliver, Wilson, Middleton, Blake, Maybury, Donachy, Sainsbury, Webb, Roast, Gamble, Griffin, Ackerman.