MANAGER Matty Holmes expects his side to encounter a testing night at the office as Wimborne Town make the long trip to Shortwood Town tonight (7.45pm).

The Magpies got their season back on track with two wins in four days last week, beating Poole Town in the Dorset Senior Cup and Larkhall Athletic in Division One South & West of the Southern League.

And Holmes believes his side will be buoyed by recent performances.

He told the Daily Echo: “I was heartened by our showings against Poole and Larkhall. Certainly the Larkhall game was pleasing as we didn’t concede from open play although Shortwood will be another tough game as they’re a good side and it’s a fair way to travel midweek.

“They have had some good early season results and we will treat them with the utmost respect, despite the fact they’ve been going through a sticky patch recently.

"They might be playing well and not quite getting the results they deserve as it’s hard to find out that much about opposition sides at our level.”

Stefan Penny returned to the Magpies squad against Larkhall after a spell out with a back problem and Holmes reported that he had no fresh injury concerns after Saturday’s game which kept Wimborne's play-off push on track, although he was keen to play down any talk of this.

“I know it’s a cliché," Holmes added. “But we just need to focus on getting three points every week. This club was at death's door a year ago, so to be in a mid-table position means we’re ahead of where I planned us to be this season.

“I’m delighted with our squad, we just need to be a little bit more consistent with our results and get into a situation where we put a run together and turn losses into draws or better.”

In Sydenhams Wessex Premier, Poppies entertain Alresford, while Ringwood travel to Hamble Club in Wessex One.