MATTY Holmes is challenging prolific Toby Holmes to claim Southern League top scorer honours after the forward's strike earned Wimborne an "excellent point" at North Leigh.

Magpies' 1-1 draw in Oxfordshire completed a fantastic week's work for manager Holmes's side following Tuesday's 3-1 victory at Shortwood.

Indeed, it could have been even better if a rare error from goalkeeper Gerard Benfield hadn't presented North Leigh with their equaliser shortly before half-time.

Matty Holmes told the Daily Echo: "It was an excellent point, a really steely performance.

"We defended extremely well at times and showed a bit of quality when we needed to,

"I’m starting to see a different side to the team now, in terms of the mental aspect of the game.

"They are looking more solid and conceding fewer goals.

"North Leigh's goal came from an unfortunate mistake by Gerard but he made amends five minutes later with a great save.

"You accept that with young keepers – but North Leigh didn’t have to work hard for their goal."

Toby Holmes's goal, a penalty box poacher's finish, was his 29th of the campaign.

He is level with Tiverton's Levi Landricombe and two adrift of John Mills, the talismanic Hereford forward, in the chase for the Southern League's golden boot award.

"I’ve challenged Toby to become the top scorer in all the leagues," added Matty Holmes. "There is no reason why he can’t do that.

"He has all the attributes and he has the players behind him. I really hope they push to get him that award.

"He’s two behind the Hereford boy, so I’m really pushing and demanding that Toby gets in those scoring positions every week.

"I’d love him to get that accolade because he deserves it."

With Wimborne sitting in 10th spot – and on course to better their previous highest finish of 12th – the manager is delighted with the way his team have evolved during his first year in the job.

He said: "The longer the boys are together, the more they are understanding their roles, in terms of where they need to be when we haven’t got the ball.

"If you are going to compete in games that is the thing you have to master.

"We have really focused on our defensive work in the past few months."

Magpies: Benfield; Walker, Maybury, S Davidson, Penny; Hartley, Stokoe, Kellaway, L Holmes; Lovell, T Holmes. Subs: Cann, Prior, J Davidson, Neale, Preston.