BROADSTONE skipper Steve Trembath admitted he could barely watch as Matt Spraggs and Peter Thompson combined to secure a thrilling one-wicket victory over Swanage.

The last-wicket pair came together with Broadstone needing 27 runs to overhaul the Dorset Funeral Plan League leaders' daunting 275 – and duly saw their team home with one ball to spare.

Craig Wells's undefeated 100 was the standout contribution to the visitors' total, with Danny Hammett (3-52) the pick of the Broadstone bowlers.

The hosts' prospects of puncturing the unbeaten start of Ryan Norman's Swans looked remote when Trembath was dismissed for 12 to leave his team rocking on 172 for seven.

But Hammett's middle-order 50 started the fightback, while number nine Mike Holm struck a priceless 54 to keep alive hopes of a landmark victory.

Nevertheless, when that pair fell to Mike Wells (2-10) in quick succession, Swanage seemed poised to open up a significant gap on Broadstone at the top of the Premier League table – only for Spraggs (14*) and Thompson (7*) to give the game its final, decisive twist.

Trembath told the Daily Echo: "None of us could really watch at the end, it was awful.

"I don't think we'll have a better game this year. As much as you always want to win comfortably, to do it in those circumstances was extra special.

"It was an extremely tough target but we always back ourselves at The Delph. It was a cracking batting wicket and we were always ahead of the rate, so it was a case of needing to keep our nerve towards the end and Spraggsy did exactly that."

Trembath also reserved praise for Hammett's terrific performance on what was the all-rounder's 30th birthday. But while his team rightly savoured their success on Saturday, the skipper insisted it will count for little if they don't follow up by winning at struggling Martinstown this weekend.

"Danny has been good for us all season and gets better every week," said Trembath. "He had a great game, so it wasn't a bad way to celebrate his birthday – it was a long night at The Delph!

"This win will give us confidence for the rest of the year but we have to make sure we do the business at Martinstown now. You have to take every game seriously and we'll do that to get the win we need."

Elsewhere, Wimborne & Colehill kept up the pressure on the top two by inflicting a comprehensive seven-wicket defeat on Shroton. The home team were bundled out for 93, before the Minstermen cantered home to earn 19 valuable points.

Dorchester remain fourth after a 133-run partnership between captain Dan Belt (75) and Simon Mitcham (68) helped them amass 240 against Shillingstone.

The bottom team were never in the hunt during their reply, ultimately folding for 143, with George Foot claiming four for 15.

Poole Town completed back-to-back victories by chasing a revised target of 103 for a five-wicket success over Stalbridge.