MATTY Holmes says a team meeting in the wake of the crushing defeat by Swindon Supermarine was the catalyst for Wimborne Town’s gritty 1-0 victory at Wantage on Saturday.

Defender Stef Penny’s 20-yard first-half free-kick settled the game in Magpies' favour, as Holmes’s side kept a clean sheet four days after they had shipped five against Marine.

Holmes told the Daily Echo: “We had a good team meeting on Thursday and did as much preparation as we could. It wasn’t a crisis meeting, because I think everyone at Wimborne would have bitten your hand off to be ninth in the league going into Saturday’s game.

“At times against Swindon we actually played some really good football so it wasn’t all doom and gloom, even though we lost 5-1.

"I wanted the meeting to reinforce our good work and get us prepared for the Wantage game. The coaches and staff had a good input into that and we’re pleased with the way the boys responded.”

Holmes was delighted with his team's all-round display at the weekend but the manager picked out the performance of Scott Arnold for specific praise.

The veteran defender was culpable for the first two of Swindon’s goals but responded with a towering contribution against Southern South & West’s bottom team.

“A bit of magic won the game,” said Holmes. “At the end we had to weather a storm. They stuck players up and hit balls forward. We gave away some silly free-kicks, which put us under a bit of pressure but it was great to get a clean sheet. Sometimes those games are better than winning 6-1, like we did at Totton.

“Scott Arnold was tremendous. He knew on Tuesday he was at fault for two goals but he put in a great performance.”

Teenage striker Will Prior was given a first Magpies start at the weekend.

“He was fantastic for the development side against Bournemouth Poppies last week and that’s why he started on Saturday,” said Holmes.

“Will can play a bit higher than our other forwards who play off Toby (Holmes) and we wanted to have a real go at Wantage and attack them. He’s only 18 and he acquitted himself very well.”

Magpies: O'Flaherty, Walker, Penny, Arnold, Davidson, Kellaway, Stokoe, Prior (L Holmes, 70), T Holmes, Lanahan, Lovell. Unused subs: Cordner, Cooper, O'Hare, Benfield.