DOWNTON were undone by a masterful display of finishing from Wimborne Town's Gareth Barnes at the Cuthbury on Saturday. The Magpies are unbeaten in the league and just a point behind leaders Winchester City, writes Ryan Lovejoy.

Barnes opened the scoring with a backheel on ten minutes, and he made it two five minutes later.

Paul Roast scrambled in the third just after the half-hour mark and Barnes completed his hat-trick before the break.

Mark Smith beat Jon Burton in a one-on-one in the 55th minute, before Brian White scored a consolation from the spot after Dan Lumber had been tripped, although Smith still had time to bag another.

A defiant Robins' boss Mitch Blake said: "Barnes was the difference. He cost them a few quid and he knows where the net is. But Brian White had a great game and he went very close a couple of times apart from his goal. Dan Lumber probably had his best game for the club and showed why I believe he has the most potential in the team.

"I have no complaints about playing teams like Wimborne or Lymington & New Milton. If you get beaten, you get beaten, but it's about the manner in which you get beaten. The 13 guys who were involved were excellent.

"One or two individual errors cost us, but we gave our maximum. Money will buy quality as Wimborne proved, but I'm happy to be in charge of players who put in that much effort."

Downton are at their Wick Lane base twice in the next few days, taking on Bournemouth Poppies in the league on Saturday and Bemerton Heath Harlequins in the Sydenhams Wessex League Cup on Tuesday.

Blake added: "The spirit is good and the dressing room is lively so if we keep that up we would hope to get a result on Saturday. Then it's anyone's game against Bemerton, because in derbies a team down the bottom can beat a team at the top."

Mark Savage returns from suspension, but Jason Guy is missing with a long-term knee injury.

Robins' reserves won for the first time this season, beating Bashley 2-1 at home with goals from Jesse Walters and Neal Archer. They are at Horndean reserves on Saturday.