BOSS Steve Cuss hailed Wimborne’s new-found resilience and then revealed three of his in-form squad had been secured on contracts for next season.
Top scorer Matt Kemble, winger Jamie Davidson and defender Jordan Cole have all agreed new deals to keep them at Cuthbury for another year, with Cuss promising there will be more to come.
Cuss told the Daily Echo: “It is an important summer for me to try to keep the squad together. We are limited with our budget but, where we can, we try to put players on contracts if that is what the player wants. I have, or will be, speaking to all the players between now and the end of the season to try to get them to commit to us for next year.
“A lot of these players have joined us mid-season and I hope they see the progression we have made and want to stay at the club.
“We haven’t really set any targets, we just try to win every game. At the moment, things are going well for us and, hopefully, we can keep the squad together and carry our good form into next season.”
Cuss’s comments came after an entertaining clash where the hosts had to soak up some early pressure, but goals from George Webb and Tom Jeffes set Wimborne on their way to a fifth victory in eight Southern League outings.
Tivvy’s Jules Emati Emati scored with 10 minutes remaining to set up a grandstand finish, but the Magpies held out thanks to Jon Blake’s goal-line clearance from Michael Nardiello in injury time.
Cuss added: “I was really pleased with the result. We weren’t at our fluent best in the first half but the difference is that we keep ourselves in games now. We probably weren’t quite at it in the first half-an-hour, but we got the all-important goal.
“Our defending has improved 100 per cent. We are making good decisions on the ball and defending properly and that is keeping us in games.”
Wimborne’s never-say-die spirit was typified by the performance of midfielder Blake, who has impressed Cuss since arriving from Bournemouth Poppies in March.
“I am really pleased for Jon. He has come in and given it a go with us at the higher level. He is a major player in both boxes for us and his work-rate and determination in midfield was excellent.”
Magpies: Harvell, Arnold, Cole, Roast (Magookin, 23), Brian, Hill, Webb (Jamal, 74), Hubbard, Jeffes (Mogg, 88), Blake, Davidson. Unused subs: Battison, Ackerman (g/k).
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