BOSS Paul Arnold saw his side successfully negotiate a tricky tie in Gloucestershire and then lavished praise on his Magpies defence.

Sammy Percival bagged the only goal of the game against the Hellenic League Premier Division outfit to boost the Cuthbury coffers to the tune of £500.

And Percival's second-half header also earned the Magpies another away-day - against unbeaten Western League Division One leaders Chard Town in five days.

Percival, recalled to the Wimborne starting line-up after recovering from injury, outjumped the Slimbridge defence to nod home Stewart Cooper's free-kick on the hour.

Arnold said: "They had a few half-chances but you would expect that from the home team and, overall, we probably had two or three good chances.

"But we also defended very well and Stewart Kearn, Wayne Crutcher, Paul Roast and Sammy Percival were outstanding.

"We've kept six clean sheets in our last seven games, including pre-season, and have looked very solid at the back."

Wimborne had an early effort ruled out following a foul on the Slimbridge goalkeeper by Stuart Cannie, while Cooper failed to find the target with a lob in the closing stages.

The visitors also had to reshuffle following the 20th-minute departure of Scott Arnold due to injury while playmaker Marcus Oldbury was ruled before kick-off by a knee problem.

Wimborne Town: Kearn, Crutcher, Roast, Percival, Rideout, Arnold (Jones, 20), Phillipson-Masters, Moore (Cousins, 85), Butler (Doyle, 75), Cooper, Cannie. Unused sub: Clements.