BROADSTONE captain Steve Trembath savoured his team's "smooth" victory over Martinstown following the previous week's tension-packed conclusion against Swanage.

Luke Carter and Tom Prest starred with the bat as the Badgers easily overhauled their hosts' total of 134, seven days after Trembath's side had toppled Dorset Funeral Plan League leaders Swanage with just one wicket to spare.

And with Swanage suffering another narrow defeat, this time to Dorchester, Broadstone closed the gap at the Premier League summit to three points.

Skipper Trembath trapped Martinstown counterpart Ed Nichols (5) and did for Nichols' opening partner, Shaun Williams (13), in similar fashion to leave the home team reeling on 28 for two. Top-order trio Sam Kershaw (24), Fraser Hill (22) and Teddy Andrews (27) all got starts, without being able to convert their respective scores into anything substantial.

And Martinstown added only 33 runs for their final six wickets, with Matt Spraggs – a hero with the bat seven days earlier – returning to the day job to claim four for 20.

Trembath told the Daily Echo: "It went really smoothly, right from the word go – the game was never in question. We got a couple of key wickets early on, their captain in particular.

"But I was really impressed with how we cleaned up the rest of the innings. They were were only three down for about 100 at drinks but then Spraggs came into play.

"He is turning into the wily veteran of the Dorset League. You always back him to take wickets at this level.

"It was key on a good batting track to get their openers early. They did fight back but we finished them off quite nicely."

Opener Carter struck nine fours and one six in his belligerent unbeaten 62. He found a willing accomplice in Prest (41*) after Ross Tooley (12) and James Park (10) had fallen with another 81 runs needed for victory.

"Carts has been back to his best this year and he batted extremely well," added Trembath. "It was nice to sit in the sun and enjoy watching him and Tom play.

"We were keen to see Swanage's score afterwards but we have to concentrate on our cricket. If we carry on the way we are, we can be confident going into every game.

"But we are under no illusions about how tough it will be to win this league. There are at least four teams still in it but it is good for the competition that there are so many of us in the running."

Elsewhere, Poole Town chased down Wimborne & Colehill's 158 for the loss of only three wickets to record a third win on the bounce.

Poole's victory puts them level on points with the Minstermen, who slipped a place to fifth after Sherborne recorded a four-wicket success over Stalbridge.

Shroton's 226 for seven was too much for Shillingstone, with the basement dwellers falling 59 runs short of their victory target on 168 all out.