MATTY Holmes admitted his first defeat in charge of Wimborne Town had been a bruising experience but backed his boys to keep punching above their weight.

Lance Smith and substitute Adam Mann struck as the Magpies were consigned to the canvas in a 2-0 defeat at Evesham United in Southern South & West on Saturday.

The match was on a knife edge until half-time but the Robins soared after Smith had slammed home a loose ball from close range following Paul Fahy’s cutback.

Chances came and went for the hosts but Evesham wrapped up the points when a quick short corner caught Wimborne napping and Mann plundered the second with nine minutes to play, prompting a candid assessment from boss Holmes.

“Overall, I didn’t think we were in the game. Evesham were strong and physical and we struggled to deal with that,” he said.

“We asked the boys to be brave enough to receive the ball and that was probably the biggest thing we lacked.

“There were one or two chances in the first half but had we scored, it would have been against the run of play and I was delighted to get in at 0-0.

“Even though we conceded a couple, I thought we were better in the second half and the good thing was how the boys responded to what we asked of them.”

The defeat followed victories against Bishop’s Cleeve and Paulton in the opening week with Holmes still optimistic.

“At half-time in all three games so far we have asked them to pass more but we came up against a top side and you could see why they did well last season,” he added.

“Evesham were stronger but in terms of football, I thought we were as good as them and we have to learn how to deal with teams like that. The boys were very disappointed and felt they had let each other down.

“After last season’s troubles, maybe people thought the two wins were unexpected and a bit of a fluke but anyone who watched them would have seen us outplay both teams.

“It is early days. We know what we have and where we are in terms of progress, this is one we just have to take on the chin because we got beaten up.

“We didn’t get the rub of the green. I thought Scott Arnold was fouled in the build-up to their second goal but you get that sometimes. It wasn’t our day.”

Holmes reported no fresh injury concerns ahead of Tuesday’s home clash with Taunton but revealed Jamie Davidson’s second-half withdrawal had been due to an ongoing ankle complaint.

“We’re trying to look after Jamie,” added Holmes. “He twisted his ankle in pre-season and we have brought him off in each game so far.

“It is a case of protecting him because once he is sorted, he will be a real danger for us. It was precautionary.”

Magpies: O’Flaherty, Maybury, Hester, Arnold, S Davidson, Kellaway (Penny, 69), Stokoe, L Holmes, T Holmes, J Davidson (Leonard, 72), Bayston. Unused subs: O’Sullivan, Randall, Benfield (g/k).