MATTY Holmes insisted he could not fault Wimborne Town's effort in their 4-2 home defeat against Southern League South rivals Basingstoke – and urged the Cuthbury club to look at the bigger picture.

A second-half barrage from the Dragons secured a vital three points in their bid to avoid the drop, while Magpies slipped further towards the relegation zone.

Franklyn Clarke's assured finish in the 25th minute gave Wimborne the lead but Yvan Jourdan netted what proved to be a game-changing equaliser seconds before half-time.

After the break, it took just five minutes for Benjamin Wright to fire the visitors ahead from close range.

Midway through the second half, an unfortunate own goal from Billy Maybury and an acrobatic overhead kick by Samuel Argent in the space of four minutes secured victory for Basingstoke.

Toby Holmes netted his 30th league goal of the season late on but Magpies failed to mount a comeback.

Boss Holmes told the Daily Echo: "It was not great but it was not due to a lack of endeavour, not in a million years.

"There was a little bit of naivety but how many of our boys have played that many games at this level compared to them? That is what you have to look at.

"I am never going to have a go at my players for the way they conduct themselves or play.

"They are all honest boys but we just have to keep the positivity going and next week becomes a bigger game.

"They were poor goals but there is no point in me ranting and raving because I need to keep the group upbeat with five games to go.

"If it was a situation where I do not see them trying, although they are bad goals, then I need to read the riot act but I see lads who care and that is the main thing.

"It was disappointing but there is a bigger picture. We have done so well to get ourselves into the situation where it is still in our hands.

"Saturday's result is not going to be a massive hurt in the big scale of things. We have to survive and that is the target for this season."

Defeat dropped Magpies to 17th after just one point from six matches but the gap to third-bottom Gosport Borough remained at five points after they suffered a 1-0 home defeat against Harrow Borough.

"It (the Gosport result) slightly softens the blow," said Matty Holmes. "It is frustrating because if we got a point, or three, it could have been even harder for them.

"We are still in the group that can get caught and everyone is so disappointed with the result but we need to make sure we have a good week, dig in and look forward to Saturday."

Magpies: Benfield, Clarke, Oldring (Lee, 72), Davidson, Maybury, Burbidge, Pettefer, Stokoe, Penny (Young, 51), L Holmes, T Holmes. Unused subs: Francis, Collins, Bayston.