BOSS Matty Holmes has warned his Wimborne Town players to guard against complacency as they bid to end the club’s FA Cup hoodoo.

Magpies have a dismal recent record in the competition having been knocked out by Wessex League opposition in five of the past six seasons.

They will be looking to progress when they host Wessex One outfit Newport in the preliminary round at The KoolPak on Saturday (3pm).

Wimborne, who have enjoyed two years of league success under Holmes, forged into a 3-0 lead against Andover Town in last season’s FA Cup, only to be pegged back to 3-3.

And they went on to lose a preliminary round replay against the Wessex Premier high-fliers, as they had 12 months previously against Alresford in Holmes’s first season at the helm.

Holmes’s predecessor Steve Cuss fell victim to the Wessex League jinx three times, exiting to Fareham Town (2012), Hamworthy United (2013) and Blackfield & Langley (2015).

Wimborne, who reached the first round in 1982 when they were beaten by Aldershot, will duel with Newport for a purse of £2,890 in prize money.

And with £6,000 up for grabs in the first qualifying round, Holmes knows a good cup run could benefit promoted Magpies in Southern League South.

He told the Daily Echo: “We have been dumped out twice by Wessex League teams since I have been here and it is something we really want to put right.

“The prize money at stake is really important, especially with the league we are in and the extra finance would give us a real boost.

“We want to progress but we know anything can happen in the FA Cup and it doesn’t matter about your league position.

“It is a one-off game. They could put everyone behind the ball, have one breakaway and score.

“We could have 20 shots and not score, similar to the past two seasons against Alresford and Andover.

“We just have to make sure we do our jobs and turn in a performance. You have to be absolutely spot on, otherwise you are going to come a cropper against any team.”

Wimborne knocked out Newport in the first qualifying round in 1992 before exiting to Bashley.

The Islanders, relegated to step six after finishing second-from-bottom in Wessex Premier last season, set up the trip to Dorset by seeing off Amesbury in the extra preliminary round.

Wimborne, who last reached the third qualifying round in 1993, have doubts over Luke Holmes (virus) and Lewis Tallack (knee).

Magpies: (from) Benfield, Tallack, Lee, Davidson, Arnold, Kellaway, Maybury, Young, T Holmes, Burbidge, Lovell, Walker, Shepherd, Penny, Stokoe, L Holmes, Bradley.

Wimborne have announced KoolPak as their official sponsor for the 2018-19 season. Based in Poole, KoolPak are the UK’s largest supplier of first aid and sports injury products. The deal has seen Cuthbury rebranded The KoolPak Stadium.