JAMES Stokoe fired Wimborne Town to victory over Sholing before earning praise from boss Steve Cuss for his adaptability.

The former Farnborough man, converted from a striker to a midfielder in recent months, netted twice in Magpies’ 3-1 triumph at the Silverlake Arena.

And Cuss admitted the 29-year-old’s double had put the polish on a fine display in the middle of the park.

The manager told the Daily Echo: “James’s performance was outstanding. He has played in midfield for a number of games now and he and Louis Kellaway controlled the game from that area.

“He is a centre forward by trade but is a technical player and can play in a number of different positions. He was a real threat when he got forward and the goals capped his display.

“What he’s able to do is pass the ball and that gives me the option to do what suits us in different games.

“James is very happy to play in midfield and is a great player to have in that he will perform whatever role we want him to.”

Stokoe put the visitors 1-0 up early on when he fired home the loose ball after a Jamie Davidson strike had been blocked on the line.

A subsequent effort from Davidson was ruled out for offside before the hosts’ Nick Watts failed to trouble goalkeeper Jason Harvell from a tight angle.

After the restart, Coby Wilson curled off target and, with the hour-mark imminent, Stokoe doubled his personal tally when he finished expertly past Lee Webber.

Mark Gamble was denied by the Sholing stopper but moments later the Ulsterman slammed in off the crossbar from close range to take to three goals the Wimborne lead.

Barry Mason should have pulled one back for the Boatmen – in the throes of their fifth fixture in 15 days – but nodded over from a yard out.

However, minutes later, Mason headed a Kevin Brewster corner beyond Harvell for a consolation goal.

Cuss added: “It was a great three points for us. We got off to a great start with the early goal and although chances were few and far between in the first half, crucially we were 1-0 up at half- time.

“In the second half, I thought we took control, our performance levels were really high and we were full value for the victory.

“It was much more of an attacking display and we created a number of chances and could have added to the three goals that we got.”

Magpies: Harvell, Arnold, Oliver, Costello, Stokoe, Kellaway, Griffin (Kemble, 81), Davidson (Lupton, 90), Walters, Gamble (Wilcox, 90), Maybury. Unused subs: Roast, Biles.

  • Poole Town’s visit to Biggleswade Town in the Southern Premier was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch.

League leaders Weymouth extended to four points their advantage over second-placed Dolphins courtesy of a 1-0 win at home to Cambridge City.