STEVE Whitcher proved that patience is a virtue as his second-half strike gave Wimborne the points in a tight tussle with high-flying Cowes Sports.

The Magpies forward, who has been forced to play second fiddle to regular strike partnership Scott Joyce and Gareth Barnes for much of the campaign, was handed a starting role as boss Paul Arnold shuffled his resources in a bid to rediscover their winning touch.

And Whitcher repaid the manager's faith as he struck a crisp volley from Scott Arnold's cross midway through the second half for the only goal of the game.

Boss Arnold said: "I was really pleased for Steve. He's been very patient in waiting for his chance and it was a tremendous goal."

Although a hamstring tweak soured Whitcher's afternoon, it was a vital victory for Wimborne - who ended their run of four games without a win, including that gut-wrenching FA Vase exit at AFC Totton.

Arnold said: "Hopefully this result has got that FA Vase game out of our system now. It was a good confidence booster for us and we created a lot more chances than we have done in recent games."

Wimborne: Kearn, Arnold, Phillipson-Masters, Kenway, Langridge, Griffiths (Culliford, 80), McCormick, Warren, Cannie, Joyce, Whitcher (Barnes, 75). Unused subs: Baker, Bentley, Kennedy.