BOSS Steve Cuss wants Wimborne to mark Grand National day by taking their first strides towards a strong finish following an indifferent Southern League campaign.

Magpies, who have dropped to second from bottom in Division One South & West, host mid-table Mangotsfield at Cuthbury (3pm).

Defeat by Poole on Easter Monday condemned Wimborne to a third game without victory, a run which had been preceded by a hat-trick of wins as Magpies staved off the threat of relegation.

Cuss told the Daily Echo: “We will be trying to collect as many points as we can from our final three games and give the players an opportunity to continue to gel ahead of next season.

“We are competitive now so you hope that will continue at the beginning of next season.

“It is going to be a different summer for me. It was about getting in 15 or so players last year to start a squad. It will be a case of a little fine tuning and we will be looking to bring in one or two quality additions to the existing squad.”

Dorset Senior Cup places will also be up for grabs with Wimborne meeting Dorchester Town in the final at the County Ground on Tuesday.

Dan Ackerman will replace Jason Harvell against the Field with the first-choice goalkeeper attending team-mate Jon Blake’s stag-do. Youth team stopper Hayden Fisher will be on the bench.

Magpies: (from) Ackerman, Arnold, Peprah-Annan, Brian, Cole, Webb, Hubbard, Hill, Davidson, Jeffes, Kemble, Magookin, Roast, Hunt, Jamal, Fisher.

• Bashley will be unchanged for the visit of Premier Division strugglers Evesham United to the Recreation Ground (3pm).

Bash: (from) Kearn, Smith, Strugnell, Middleton, Whitley, Casey, Gillespie, Allen, Stokoe, Gamble, Oliver, Green, Gazzard, Vokes, Penny, Foster.

• Christchurch’s quest to finish third in Wessex Premier will face a stiff test on the Isle of Wight against Newport (3pm).

Priory, who have two cup finals on the horizon, will be looking to bounce back following their midweek defeat by Poppies.

Boss Graham Kemp said: “We probably need to win our final three league games to finish third. It would be disappointing to finish fifth having got so close.

“We have played Newport three times this season and beaten them in close games.”

James Burden is available for selection after recovering from illness, but Dan Thompson is unlikely to make the boat due to injury.

Priory: (from) Collins, Costello, Legg, Crutchley, Brian, Burt, Smith, Taylor, Osborne, Fairbrother, Cornick, Lovell, Griffin, Dand, Burden.

• Ashley Staines and Shane Murphy both return for Hamworthy United’s home showdown with Alton (3pm).

Hammers: (from) Murphy, Wyatt, Horlock, Haysom, Lockyer, Whitcher, Lanahan, Robinson, Corby, Chudy, Burbidge, Yelland, Basing, Pidgley, White, Staines, Voysey.