WIMBORNE Town boss Matty Holmes expressed his delight after bolstering his squad with two new recruits.

The Cuthbury boss swooped to secure the services of ex-Cherries youngsters Paddy Hester and Charlie Kendall.

Striker Kendall, who was scouted for Cherries by Holmes at the age of seven, is set to go straight into Magpies’ squad for the trip to Yate Town on Saturday (3pm).

Holmes told the Daily Echo: “It’s a long season and with pitches being heavy, this is where you have to sneak in a couple of signings and boost the squad a bit.

“I’ve known Charlie since he was seven years old. We scouted him into the academy. He is an exciting young player with a lot of pace. He is fearless and it’s great we have him on board.

“He had a spell at Bashley last season and also went to Weymouth with Mark Molesley. But nothing materialised and he had a really bad leg injury. He had an operation and has been out of the game for a few months.

“We have got to nurture him but he will be in the squad on Saturday.”

Full-back Hester, formerly of Hamworthy United, returns to the club having opted to go travelling – he had initially been snapped up by the Wimborne boss in June 2016.

Hester is set to feature later this month, with his first game likely to be at Taunton on Tuesday, January 23.

“At the end of last season we tried to get Paddy to re-sign but he went off to do a bit of travelling and have some down time,” said Holmes.

“We spoke about a month ago and he was keen to come back. We have him signed and he will be available for the Taunton game.

“He was quality last season, I thought he was one of the best left-backs in the league.

“His pedigree speaks for itself and he gives us a good balance with a lovely left foot.”

While Holmes has moved to boost the squad, a number of his charges are set to miss the Southern League West fixture at Lodge Road.

Luke Holmes begins a three-match ban, while Sam Davidson and Sam Bayston are expected to miss out.

Magpies will also asses the fitness of James Stokoe, who is nursing a hamstring problem and has not trained this week.

Hosts Yate have won four of their past five league fixtures and are 11th in the table, six places below Magpies.

“They had a big shift in personnel and are doing well,” added Holmes.

“We will go there fully focused, aware of their threats and will try our hardest to get a result.”

Victory could take Holmes’s charges back into the top three.

Magpies (from): Benfield, Penny, Maybury, Oldring, Arnold, Cole, Kellaway, Stokoe, Okumu, T Holmes, Burbidge, Lovell, Francis, Walsh, Walker, Kendall.