DELIGHTED Wimborne boss Christer Warren heaped praise on his side after they passed their big test with flying colours' at the County Ground last night.

Striker James Stokoe prodded home the only goal of the game after 55 minutes when he responded first to a rebound from a Liam Green free-kick on 55 minutes.

It was Wimborne's first points of the season following their shock 3-2 home defeat to Brading in their Wessex Premier League curtain-raiser on Saturday.

"I'm delighted with the way we responded tonight," said Warren. "It was a big test for us after losing our opening game and I thought we came through it with flying colours.

"I thought our movement and possession was excellent in the first half. Although it became a bit of a fight in the second half we dug deep to secure all three points.

"Hamworthy are a big well-organised side that will take a lot of points off teams this season."

The game boiled over in the 70th minute when Hammers striker Stuart Cannie and Magpies substitute Peter Smith got sent off.

The incident marred an otherwise keenly-contested derby.

"Let's just say I thought it was a little harsh," said Hammers boss Phil Simkin.

"The referee had no choice but to send off the Wimborne lad for a two-footed tackle, but the tussle that followed didn't warrant Stuart being sent off as well."

Simkin, however, was pleased with his side's overall performance and felt unlucky not to get a point out of the game.

"I'm absolutely dismayed that we got nothing from the game," he said. "On reflection a 0-0 draw would have been a fair result.

"Wimborne were technically better than us in one or two positions. But it shows just how far this club has come that I'm disappointed not to get a result off Wimborne."

Hamworthy United: Peters, Gilbert, Grimason (Dean, 75), Cherrett (Thomas, 85), Walker, McCabe, Crow, Dovell, Cannie, Byerley, Jackson.

Wimborne Town: Walker-Harris, Arnold, Phillipson-Masters (Smith, 20), Jones, Hall, Green, Cann, Warren, James, Gibbons (Whitcher, 85), Stokoe (Joyce, 70).

  • Ringwood, meanwhile, suffered their second successive defeat in Division One losing 3-2 at home to US Portsmouth.

After a goal-less first half the visitors took a 2-0 lead despite having a man sent off 10 minutes after the restart. The hosts twice pegged back the Navy outfit but were unable to fashion an equaliser.