AFC TOTTON will have mixed emotions when they visit Wimborne Town on Saturday in the Southern One South & West.

On the one hand the Stags can empathise with the Magpies who have had to balance the books by letting several good players go in recent weeks.

On the other, they are thankful that two of those departed Wimborne players – defenders Patrick Wilson and Ian Oliver – have ended up at the Testwood Stadium and are playing their part in turning Totton’s season around.

Wilson’s solid central defensive partnership with James Roden (nicknamed Monkey) has formed the backbone of three successive wins in which the on-song Stags have scored 13 goals and conceded just one.

He has now been joined by ex-Eastleigh, Poole and Bashley man Oliver, who made a cracking debut at left-back in Boxing Day’s 2-0 derby victory over Winchester City.

Wilson, a full-time coach/tutor for AFC Bournemouth, is a tried and trusted Southern League campaigner and Totton boss Steve Hollick admitted: “Having a bit more experience at the back has really helped us and Pat’s formed a good partnership with James Roden.

"All of a sudden Monkey is full of confidence and looks like the player we signed.

“Liam Hibberd is also playing very well and Oli (Oliver) didn’t put a foot wrong on his debut after coming in for Marc Diaper who had a very serious throat infection and spent Christmas in hospital.

“The Boxing Day game could have been different had Adam Tomasso scored a first-half chance for Winchester but, after that, we were really solid and frustrated their front two. We seemed to win our personal battles all over the park.

“Ian and Pat will be going back to Wimborne tomorrow and I can sympathise with the money situation down there because Totton’s has been a lot worse in the past.

“Players like Franklyn Clarke (now Dorchester) and goalkeeper Jason Harvell (retired) must be a loss to them, but we know ourselves that team spirit comes through in difficult times and we won’t be underestimating them.”

Totton's ex-Eastleigh midfielder Jack Alexander missed the Boxing Day game because his father was unwell, but he trained this week and comes back into contention.

Stags, meanwhile, have allowed Steve Mowthorpe’s goalkeeping understudy Victor Silvestre to dual-sign for Sydenhams Premier outfit Brockenhust, who need a short-term replacement for Callum Maher.

Totton are keeping close tabs on Wimborne's Southampton-based goal ace Mark Gamble, who was made available for loan/transfer before Christmas.

"The ball's in Wimborne's court, we'll see what they decide to do," said Hollick.