WIMBORNE boss Steve Cuss said his players could be proud of their achievements this season after they had equalled their highest points tally in the Southern League.

The Magpies missed out on setting a new club best after suffering a 3-0 defeat at the hands of Division One South & West play-off chasers Shortwood United on Saturday.

Wimborne, in their fourth year in the Southern League, finished 13th on 55 points, the same tally as last season when they were one place higher. They came 19th with 35 points in 2011 and 2012.

Duncan Culley’s first-half double put Shortwood in the driving seat at their picturesque Meadowbank headquarters before Kevin Slack’s strike seven minutes into the second period killed off the visitors.

Wimborne’s cause was again hindered by injuries with skipper Scott Arnold forced off at the interval and industrious midfielder Jon Blake following suit early in the second half.

Cuss told the club website: “Full credit to the players. They gave everything today, just as they have in recent games.

“We have had to work with a minimal squad over the past six weeks, yet we came into the game against Shortwood on the back of a mini-run of two victories and a draw.

“Full credit to our young players as well. They have come in and helped through a difficult period and three of them (Max Brimson, Liam Donachy and Jamie Grose) all played a full part today. Our players can be proud of what we achieved at the end of the season with a very small squad.”

Magpies: Harvell, Arnold (Donachy, h-t), Maybury, Oliver, Brimson, Blake (Grose, 54), Griffin, Kemble, Stokoe, Gamble, Webb. Unused sub: Roast.