POOLE Borough chairman Syd Murrell admitted the Dorset Premier League title is beyond his side's reach, following their 3-2 loss against Westland Sports last Saturday.

The Yeovil team charged into a 3-0 lead within 40 minutes at Turlin Moor, courtesy of a Mike Rousell brace and one from Phil Ormrod.

Hornets hit back through a Jamie Holland penalty just before half-time and reduced the deficit with 11 minutes to go, when Lee Diaper struck.

Murrell's men could not snatch a draw in the closing stages.

But their chairman was pleased to see his charges go down fighting.

He said: "Westland are a very strong and quick side.

"In the first half they tore us apart and opened us up well with some long balls.

"But as the game went on, we got more and more into it and started putting on the pressure after the penalty."

The Hornets are going through a difficult spell at the moment, following the departure of manager Jason Phillips, who left due to a dispute with the club over a potential transfer target.

His assistant Giles Kilshawe has taken the reigns on a temporary basis, as Borough bid to climb up from fifth in the table.

But with league leaders Portland United 14 points clear of them, Murrell knows he faces a tough battle to resurrect Hornets' title hopes.

He added: "We've lost a couple of players with the manager going and this hasn't helped us.

"It looks like it's too late for us anyway with regard to the title."

At the other end of the table, bottom side Cranborne went level on points with Cobham Sports, after winning 2-1 at home to Bridport.

Ben Ward struck just before half-time to give the Bees the advantage at the break.

But James Antell levelled on 48 minutes, before Oli Hepworth netted on the hour to hand the Cranes their first league win since September.

Elsewhere, Hamworthy United surrendered a two-goal cushion at the County Ground, as they shared a 3-3 thriller with Wincanton Town.

Michael Wynne put the hosts ahead after 15 minutes and Darren Rudd doubled their lead on the half-hour mark.

Sam Vine grabbed a goal back on the hour but Garry Williams hit back for Hammers.

Vine bagged a second to pull the visitors closer and Michael Williams drove home an equaliser to devastate United with one minute remaining.

In the day's other game, high-flying Gillingham Town destroyed Sturminster Newton United 4-0 at Barnett's Field.

Nick Thompson put the away team in front after just eight minutes before the floodgates opened in the second half, as Loic Herouard and Jason Manley (2) sealed the points for Gills.

Meanwhile, the league's three other fixtures were postponed because of the weather.