MATTY Holmes was left to count the cost of “one lapse in concentration” after his Wimborne Town side suffered a single-goal defeat at Barnstaple.

Magpies beat the same opponents 3-0 last month but on a heavy pitch at the Devon club’s Mill Road ground, they were defeated by James Blake’s 68th-minute header.

The manner in which they conceded to their Southern South & West rivals – from a near-post header at a corner – was at odds with an otherwise resilient display.

Holmes told the Daily Echo: “The game didn’t have much quality.

“We defended very well at times and it was always going to be an error or something small to decide it either way – and we just didn’t defend the set-piece.

“It was just one lapse in concentration and that’s what happens in this league sometimes. You have that little slip or switch off and you concede.”

Barnstaple had slightly the better of a tight first half. James Mayne’s eighth-minute header struck the bar before Wimborne number one Alan Walker-Harris was called on to thwart Scott Sharp as the striker ran through on goal.

Holmes's team tried to summon a response after falling behind but Carl Preston's off-target effort was the best of an attacking performance bereft of Magpies' customary invention and fluency.

“We had one or two opportunities but on a heavy pitch our longer pass wasn’t great, so in possession we didn’t really create a lot," said Holmes.

“Barnstaple play with a high tempo so I was delighted with our defensive display. Eight weeks ago we’d have lost that by three or four.

“I can’t fault our work rate. It was just in possession that we faltered on a sticky pitch.”

Wimborne suffered a significant body blow on 25 minutes, when defender Connor Cocklin, returning from a month on the sidelines, sustained a season-ending knee injury.

With skipper and fellow centre-half Scott Arnold already ruled out for the remainder of the campaign – and Billy Maybury missing from the line-up at Barnstaple – Magpies’ defensive resources are stretched to the limit.

“I’ll have to look at that quite quickly,” said Holmes.

“Connor’s a big miss but since he’s been out we've performed quite well at the back.

“Sam Davidson has kicked on to another level. If I get an injury or a suspension to Billy or Sam I can put James Stokoe back there, but then I lose him from the midfield.

“At the moment I’m not in the situation financially to bring another player in. We have to work with what we have.

“I have options, not great options, but I have options.”

Holmes, by contrast, has a welcome goalkeeping dilemma for next weekend’s trip to Mangotsfield.

Walker-Harris has deputised soundly for Gerard Benfield, who was in imperious form prior to being forced out of Magpies’ past two games.

“Gerard’s still suffering a bit with his dead leg so he wasn’t 100 per cent fit to play,” continued Holmes.

“He’ll be in serious contention for Saturday, that’s for sure. Gerard’s been excellent and his distribution for us has been wonderful.

“But Alan’s delivered some decent performances so that’s a really big decision for me.”

Magpies: Walker-Harris; Penny, Cocklin (Stokoe, 25), S Davidson, Hester; L Holmes, Lowes, Kellaway, Lovell (Preston, 72); T Holmes, J Davidson (Cann, 65). Unused subs: Walker, Benfield (g/k).