TOBY Holmes maintained his fruitful start to the season by bagging a clinical double in Wimborne Town’s eventful 2-1 win over Taunton Town tonight.

Holmes took his personal tally to four in as many games as the Magpies climbed to fourth in the embryonic Southern League Division One South & West table.

The prolific former Parley Sports striker netted either side of half-time, his second goal coming just minutes after Taunton had been reduced to 10 men in bizarre circumstances.

Peacocks defender Callum Martindale received two yellow cards in the space of about 90 seconds, his first for a robust challenge on James Stokoe – and his second for kicking the ball in the direction of the Wimborne dugout.

Martindale’s poorly-timely tackle on Stokoe sparked an angry exchange between players from both camps, with the Wimborne man also booked for retaliating.

And before play had restarted, two Taunton players appeared to kick the ball in the direction of the Wimborne dugout, with Martindale’s unwanted hat-trick effort almost hitting assistant referee Dave Cotton.

Wimborne were well worth their interval lead, with marksman Toby Holmes finishing low into the bottom corner after Luke Holmes’s incisive pass had split the Taunton defence in the 21st minute.

Magpies’ on-loan goalkeeper Pat O’Flaherty saved well from Jordan Rodgers in the early stages and also parried a stinging drive from Josh Searle towards the end of the opening period.

But the hosts had the better of the first-half chances with Luke Holmes twice going close and Paddy Hester’s venomous 20-yard free-kick tipped over the crossbar by visiting goalkeeper Lloyd Irish.

While some Taunton players had bickered with each other in the first half, they turned their venom on referee Stephen Graham and his assistant Cotton following the sending-off of Martindale midway through the second half.

And as the visitors continued to feel hard done by at what they clearly felt had been a perceived injustice, Wimborne made them pay for losing their concentration and doubled their lead.

Another fine pass from the impressive Luke Holmes sent Toby Holmes scampering into the 18-yard box and the hitman’s emphatic finish gave Irish no chance.

Matt Wright threw Taunton a lifeline when his thumping header halved the deficit eight minutes from time but manager Matty Holmes’s men were rewarded as their easy-on-the-eye and brave style of play won the day.

Magpies: O’Flaherty, Maybury, Hester, Arnold, S Davidson, Kellaway, Stokoe, L Holmes, T Holmes (J Davidson, 74), O’Sullivan, Bayston (Hartley, 67). Unused subs: Leonard, Penny, Benfield (g/k).

  • Poole Town claimed an excellent point from a 0-0 draw at Weston-super-Mare in National South. The hosts had been top, having claimed maximum points from their first three games.

See Thursday's Daily Echo for reaction from tonight's non-league.