MANAGER Matty Holmes was left to rue the concession of an untimely winner as Wimborne Town suffered a narrow 1-0 defeat at high-flying Swindon Supermarine on Saturday.

Connor Waldon, who had netted in Supermarine’s 5-1 win at Cuthbury in October, settled the issue in favour of the hosts with a finely-taken strike on the stroke of half-time.

The Magpies handed a debut to loan signing Billy Lowes from Weymouth but were missing leading goalscorer Toby Holmes who was unavailable for the trip to Wiltshire.

And despite losing skipper James Stokoe to injury at the break and seeing Dan Cann and Jack Lovell forced off during the second half, boss Holmes was delighted with their display.

Holmes told the Daily Echo: “We came away really disappointed. I spoke to their manager after the game and he felt they had got away with it and a draw was the minimum we had deserved.

“We just dropped a little too deep before half-time and they scored. We allowed their lad to whip a fantastic goal in the corner. I don’t want to take anything away from them but we should have dealt with it.

“But it was a great all-round effort and a huge improvement on the early-season game at Cuthbury. Overall, we are looking more of a team defensively.

“We had a couple of really good chances and a couple of half chances. It was a really good display in terms of trying to nullify them. Both teams tried to play and it was a good game to watch.

“We broke quickly when we won the ball. We tried to be a little more disciplined tactically because we knew they were a good side and were at home.

“I was gutted for the boys because I felt they deserved something from the game for the effort they put in.”

Asked about Lowes, who has signed initially for a month, Holmes said: “He had a really good debut and gave us good balance. He passed the ball well in midfield, showed good energy and is going to be an asset for us.”

Holmes added: “James Stokoe and Dan Cann came off injured and Jack Lovell was ill. We were down to the bare bones at the end and that was why I was so pleased with them.

“Considering we had a 17-year-old and three 19-year-olds on the pitch against a top side, I can’t be too disappointed with the result as a manager.”

Magpies: Benfield, Penny, Hester, Maybury, S Davidson, Lowes, Stokoe (J Davidson, h-t), L Holmes, Kellaway, Cann (Bayston, 80), Lovell (Griggs, 60). Unused subs: Harvey, Walker-Harris (g/k).