WIMBORNE Town boss Matty Holmes warned his troops not to take struggling Mangotsfield United lightly.

The Cuthbury side have recorded back-to-back triumphs in Southern League West, scoring seven goals combined in wins over Shortwood United and Cirencester Town.

In comparison, 21st-placed Mangotsfield have won only two league games this season and are yet to record a victory on the road.

But with the sides set to meet at Cuthbury on Saturday (3pm) and Holmes dealing with two key absentees, the Magpies boss stressed his side had to be “on our mettle”.

He told the Daily Echo: “Mangotsfield are a good Southern League outfit. They did the double over us last season. I know it’s a different manager and a new group of players but that is still tough to swallow.

“It is about how we turn up on the day to make sure we do the job properly.

“Our team has to be at 100 per cent. We cannot go in at 70 or 80 per cent because we will get found out – that is what I keep drumming into the players. So far we have been all right.

“I am confident with the squad we have going into the game but we have to be on our mettle. We are desperate to win and keep the positive momentum going.”

Wimborne duo Matt Oldring and Luke Holmes are set to serve one-match bans.

Oldring’s absence means skipper Scott Arnold, an unused substitute at Cirencester, is expected to return to the starting line-up. The defender has been plagued by a groin problem in recent weeks.

Toby Holmes and James Stokoe were also set to be assessed following ankle injuries.

Having picked up 23 points from 15 league games this season, manager Holmes insisted he was happy with how the campaign was shaping up.

He added: “We are doing all right at the moment. At the start of the season we would have taken what we have so far. I think we would have bitten your hand off.

“We have been getting some good results and are on a good run of form.

“We are scoring lots of goals and, if we can make sure little mistakes are being eradicated at certain times of games, then we could be a really good side.

“Teams are beating each other and the middle section of the league is so tight.

“If you can get a good run of games, keep consistent and get your mental attitude right, you can keep playing for something at the end of the season.”

Youngster Robbie Bradley is also set to be included in Magpies’ ranks, having been called up from the club’s development squad.

Magpies: (from) Benfield, Penny, Francis, Cole, Davidson, Oldring, Kellaway, Maybury, Bayston, T Holmes, Stokoe, Burbidge, Lovell, Arnold, Walsh, Bradley.