A RAPID start and a generous helping of courage saw Wimborne Town make light work of fellow strugglers Wantage at Cuthbury.

Carl Preston’s 11th goal in 18 matches for the Magpies lit the blue touch paper within the opening minute before returning playmaker Jamie Davidson, utilised as the spearhead of a three-pronged attack, all but sealed the spoils on the stroke of half-time.

The second half was full of endeavour but chances were in short supply before substitute Morgan Turner sealed a precious yield with 10 minutes to play to move Wimborne out of the Southern South & West drop zone on goal difference courtesy of their first league win since August.

Manager Steve Cuss named two changes with captain Scott Arnold back after recovering from a facial injury and Davidson drafted straight into the starting XI. Declan Randall dropped to the bench and Ian Oliver missed out.

If there were any nerves in the home camp ahead of the crunch clash, they were settled within seconds as Arnold fed Sam Griffin to flick over his marker for Preston to finish inside the far corner.

Wimborne continued to set a swift tempo and went close to a second when stand-in centre-half Jon Blake hit the crossbar before rattled Wantage began to settle.

James Stokoe summed up the determination in Wimborne's ranks when he picked up a yellow card for mercilessly crashing into Matt Clark with just eight minutes played.

Chances continued to come the home side's way when Blake went close with a far-post header after 19 minutes and again planted wide from Preston’s corner just past the half-hour mark.

In a rare foray forward, Josias Carbon sliced wide for Wantage but Wimborne stayed on the front foot with Griffin jinking inside substitute Jared Jones only to scuff his shot into the grateful arms of keeper Daniel Smith.

But the home side were not to be denied and the skipper was involved again, intercepting a pass before galloping into the space he had been generously afforded down the right.

Arnold then clipped a ball round an exposed Wantage backline for Davidson to hold his run, waltz through unchallenged and stroke past the deserted Smith.

Magpies started from where they left off after the break with the unmarked Blake thumping well off target from a deep free-kick.

The visitors tried to muster some momentum going down the Cuthbury slope but the home defence, expertly marshalled by Wayne Crutcher, remained solid.

At the other end, an intricate exchange with Davidson ended with Stokoe steaming through the centre, only for his prodded effort to get blocked by Smith.

From there, Wimborne upped the ante once more as Preston teed up Davidson to finish tamely at the Wantage custodian.

But with the wind in their sails, the points were pouched when Turner finished at the second attempt amid a goalmouth scramble less than a minute after coming on for Preston.

Nick Thorne stylishly fashioned an opening for Wantage but curled just wide late on as Wimborne capped their fine win with the bonus of a first league clean sheet of the season.

Mapgies: Harvell, Arnold (Randall, 86), Crutcher, Holmes, Maybury, Blake, Griffin, Davidson (Roast, 90+3), Stokoe, Wilson, Preston (Turner, 79).

• Poole Town fell at the first hurdle in the FA Trophy, losing 1-0 at Southern Premier rivals Merthyr Town. Gethin Jones scored the decisive goal from a corner with seven minutes to play.