STEVE Claridge says Wimborne’s “pass and move football” makes a refreshing change from the plethora of Southern South & West teams that just “lump the ball forward”.

Claridge’s Salisbury team were 1-0 winners at Cuthbury on Monday, but only after riding their luck during a second-half in which Magpies’ expressive, high-intensity display pinned back their promotion chasing visitors.

Wimborne boss Matty Holmes – in his first managerial role – has made plain his priority this term is to improve his young players, with a heavy emphasis on playing an enterprising brand of football.

Claridge told the Daily Echo: “I think Matty is doing the right thing. He’s trying to get them to play. With all due respect they won’t get in the top five.

“They want to make sure that when people come here to watch they know they’ll see a team trying to play football.

“They do that, there’s lots of pass and move football, movement off the ball, push and run, that sort of play.

“If you’re a kid and you’re trying to learn the game and trying to improve yourself then you’ll do that here.

“He’s trying to get the ball down and he’s trying to improve everybody’s technique. Lots and lots of teams at this level, all they do is lump the ball forward.

“They don’t play, they just rely on physicality. It’s nice to come and play against teams like this that get it down and play properly.”

Claridge and Holmes share a friendship stretching back to when they were on Cherries’ books together in the mid-1980s.

And while Claridge admits he is under pressure to deliver results for Salisbury, he insists he would adopt the same approach as Holmes to managing Wimborne.

“I have a lot of respect for Matty and I can see what he’s trying to do,” added Claridge. “It’s the right thing to do at this club.

“Our job is different, it’s all about getting results, getting in the top five and hopefully getting out of this league.

“But if I was at this football club I’d be doing exactly what he’s doing.

“I’d be trying to get the kids in, I’d be trying to get us playing and enjoying it.

“They are very dangerous, they have one or two players who get on the ball, get at you and can make a difference.”