MATTY Holmes praised the resolve of his Wimborne Town side after they battled in vain at Merthyr Town.

Magpies squandered three excellent first-half chances to open the scoring before Ian Traylor capitalised on a defensive error to give the Welsh side the lead.

Wimborne coped with stern pressure from the Southern League South high fliers but failed to find an equaliser.

The hosts secured the win in stoppage time through a Kerry Morgan strike after Magpies had thrown caution to the wind.

Boss Holmes told the Daily Echo: “It was a tough game for us. Merthyr are the best team we have played this season. We coped really well but they moved the ball at speed.

“We weathered the storm early in the game, which I was pleased with. We had the three best chances of the first half. Although they had long shots and good possession, we broke away well and created opportunities to get a goal. We caused them a few problems.

“In the second half they came out very strong and we didn’t quite hold the ball up enough.

“Our defence was under a lot of pressure but we worked really hard.

“A mistake in our defence gifted them the first goal but they deserved it. They have got good players and we worked so hard to stay in the game.

“There was just the period in the second half when we could not hold on.

“Once they scored we galvanised ourselves and played some cracking football.

“Luke Holmes had a great shot just past the post, Franklyn Clarke had two efforts, Luke Burbidge was causing a few problems and their manager said after that they never felt comfortable. The second goal came when we gambled with just three at the back.”

Clarke was denied on several occasions in the first half by excellent work from Merthyr goalkeeper Joe Perry.

At the other end, Gerard Benfield made a fine save and Matt Oldring delivered a goal-line clearance after half-time, however Merthyr finally broke through when Traylor punished a lapse in concentration from Wimborne.

Magpies had chances to level before Morgan broke away in the closing stages to confirm the win.

“If we had nicked a point we would have been happy because we worked so hard and caused them problems on the counter,” said Matty Holmes.

“It was a good footballing atmosphere and at 1-0 we could have easily caved in but we were competitive, which is all I can ask for.

“We changed the system to try to be more solid and we nearly got away with it. We are working hard with the lads tactically away from home. It is not like we are going into every away game doing the same thing.”

Magpies: Benfield, Penny (Lee, 77), Hester, Davidson, Oldring, Clarke, Francis (Young, 90), L Holmes, T Holmes (Flynn, 61), Burbidge, Maybury. Unused subs: Arnold, Collins (g/k).