A DELIGHTED Matty Holmes hailed Wimborne’s “result of the season” after the Magpies won 1-0 at Winchester City to end the hosts’ five-match winning run.

Toby Holmes, one of several Wimborne players struggling with illness, struck the only goal of the game on 21 minutes to seal his team’s third league victory on the spin.

After spurning a series of opportunities to kill the game the visitors came under the pump during the closing stages – and manager Holmes was thrilled with how they stood up to the test.

He told the Daily Echo: “I’m delighted. We should have had two or three and put the game out of sight – then there’s always the worry that can backfire on you later on.

“We had quite a few players under the weather, but they all wanted to play. Toby Holmes gave us everything he had until he couldn’t run anymore.

“It’s the result of the season in terms of the squad sticking together, I’m absolutely thrilled with that performance."

The visitors grabbed their lead when, for the umpteenth time, left back Paddy Hester closed down Joe Briggs’s space on half-way.

Luke Holmes stole in to complete the job, wresting possession away from the Winchester winger, before spying Toby Holmes’ forward run and feeding his team-mate.

The striker opened up his body and slotted the ball through the legs of advancing keeper Lewis Noice.

Toby Holmes and Jack Lovell were both off target when presented with chances to double Magpies’ advantage.

But there was no legislating for referee Lewis Sandoe’s decision to ignore Noice’s wiping out of Lovell when the forward chased onto Connor Cocklin’s through ball on the stroke of half-time.

The challenge had echoes of German keeper Harald Schumacher’s 1982 World Cup assault on Frenchman Patrick Battiston.

“Jack got absolutely smashed," said Matty Holmes.

"The keepers sometimes get the benefit of the doubt if they’re coming out for something, but I thought it was a foul.”

Lovell and Luke Holmes were both thwarted by Noice shortly after the restart but, while their deficit remained at one, Winchester were always in with a sniff.

Excellent Magpies No 1 Gerard Benfield saved from Jamie Barron, before Danny Smith struck wide from Howard Neighbour’s cut back.

Neighbour then headed straight at Benfield from Briggs’ corner. But the keeper reserved his best for when Winchester substitute Jason Silver streaked through, Benfield repelling the attacker at point-blank range.

From there, Magpies dug deep, and they could even have scored a second themselves, when Jamie Ford’s desperate block prevented Sam Lanahan from capping a lovely move with the finish it deserved.

“In the second-half, to be honest, the game was dour,” added Matty Holmes.

“But it’s nice that a Wimborne team can shut up shop, be organised and deal with threats. We have that resolve now.”

Magpies (4-4-2): Benfield; Penny, Cocklin (Lanahan, h-t), Maybury, Hester; Lovell, Kellaway, Stokoe, L Holmes; Cann, T Holmes (Bayston, 61).

Unused subs: Walker, Griggs, Walker-Harris (g/k).

Booked: Cocklin.

Attendance: 236.