NICK McCootie’s solitary strike after just 17 seconds condemned below-par Wimborne to their fourth home league defeat in five Cuthbury outings.

The Magpies were caught cold from their own kick-off as a long, hopeful ball found James Billing who rolled in the much-travelled frontman to beat Jason Harvell.

A poor afternoon got no better for the hosts who struggled to create chances before seeing midfielder Jon Blake dismissed for a second booking in injury time.

Frustrated boss Steve Cuss admitted he had no complaints about a result that saw the Magpies slip to ninth in Division One South & West, while the visitors’ victory saw them keep pace with the play-off pack.

Cuss told the Daily Echo: “I thought we were sluggish from the start and the goal highlighted that. We were all over the place for the first 20 minutes and we could have conceded a couple more in that period.

“We were better after half-time but I didn’t think we had enough shots on goal.

“We could have done better in the final third but, having started sloppily, we cannot complain too much.

“We are in one of those spells at the moment. We have struggled to create chances in the past three or four home games, it seems to have deserted us, but with hard work it will come back because we know we have got the quality here.

“The lads shouldn’t feel low.

Our season has gone well so far, even if we have missed a couple of opportunities recently to push on. If there is any disappointment, it is probably down to losing a few home games lately.

“I can’t be too critical of the players. They have got us into a good position and we have just got to find a way to get through this patch and push on again.”

Blake, already booked for a challenge on goalkeeper Kyle Phillips, was sent off by referee Adam Ricketts for an injury-time lunge.

On the red card, Cuss added: “The referee probably had to do it. Jon is a wholehearted player and he just mistimed the challenge.

“If anything, we were more disappointed with the first yellow because he had every right to challenge the goalkeeper, but the reaction of their players got him that first yellow card.

“I wouldn’t want to see my side do that (surround the referee) and I’d rather not see any side do it.

“It influences referees and you can either send out your team to do that or not, but the reaction of their players caused the booking.

“I am a bit disappointed with it but these things happen at this level and we have to understand that.”

Magpies: Harvell, Arnold, Case, Costello (Smith, 70), Peprah-Annan, Blake, Sainsbury, Hubbard, Jeffes (Kemble, 67), Davidson (Moth, 67), Webb. Unused subs: Maybury, Ackerman (g/k).