MANAGER Matty Holmes admitted Wimborne Town’s late capitulation at Basingstoke had been “soul destroying”.

Magpies had been leading 2-1 heading into injury-time at the Camrose Ground before goals from Callum Bunting and Dan Collier turned the tide.

Although Jack Lovell’s third-minute opener had been cancelled out by Zidan Akers, Curtis Young’s first league goal for Wimborne looked set to earn them a second win of the season.

However, the hosts, who had seen Dean Stow sent off for a poor challenge on Young after 74 minutes, staged a dramatic late show.

Firstly, substitute Bunting restored parity when he followed up to score after his penalty had been superbly saved by Magpies goalkeeper Gerard Benfield.

And Collier administered the knockout blow deep in added time when he netted the winner to condemn Wimborne to a fourth league defeat of the season.

It capped a miserable week for second-from-bottom Magpies who also exited the FA Cup at the hands of Dorchester on Tuesday.

Boss Holmes told the Daily Echo: “It was soul destroying because the lads were absolutely fantastic. Their attitude to the game and their quality were superb.

“We went 1-0 up early on and then conceded in first-half injury-time. We were trying to see out the game at 2-1 and they scored twice in stoppage-time.

“I was really disappointed for all the lads because they put in such a shift. Even at 2-2, we still expected to get a point which would have been great because Basingstoke are a good side.

“It was lovely to hear from their staff that we were the best team they had played this season. They gave us a lot of credit and said they were surprised we were near the bottom of the table.

“But that was little consolation when we had such a grip on the game. It was the fourth game this season where we had been in front and not been able to hold on.

“We remain hugely upbeat. We have come into a new division at a different level and it is tough.

“We have gone in front in games but not been able to hold on. Some of the feedback we are getting from other teams is that we are a really good side and things will change.

“That is what we have to keep believing. Hopefully, we will get the little bit of luck we need. The lads just have to make sure they stay focused right up until the final whistle.”

Holmes said he had no complaints with the late spot-kick, awarded for a handball by defender Billy Maybury.

“Billy went up with his arm,” added Holmes. “He was gutted in the dressing room after the game. It was a penalty but I am not going to blame him because it is just our luck at the moment. Billy was excellent at centre-half.

“Gerard made a fantastic save from the penalty and their player was quite fortunate because the ball went back to him and he tucked it away.”

Magpies: Benfield, Penny, Maybury, Davidson, Lee, Kellaway (L Holmes, 70), Stokoe, Francis, Young, Burbidge, Lovell. Unused subs: Arnold, Owen, Shepherd, Walsh (g/k).