SWANAGE went down to a second agonising defeat in succession after Dorchester pair Joshua Richardson and Jack Walklett’s gripping 19-run last-wicket stand earned their side victory with three balls to spare.

The Swans’ unbeaten start to the Dorset Funeral Plan League season had gone up in smoke in almost identical fashion against Broadstone the previous week.

A repeat looked highly unlikely when, defending a competitive 181, the hosts claimed four wickets for four runs to reduce Dorchester to 163 for nine.

But Richardson held firm – despite having been removed from his side’s attack earlier in the day due to injury – to eke out 16 undefeated runs.

And the nerveless Walklett hung around for four not out to add to the five wickets he bagged in the Swanage innings.

Indeed, Walklett (5-35) got rid of key men Ben Baczala (64) and Ian Booth (39) to apply the brakes just when the Swans had designs on getting their foot down.

Mike Hernandez put Dorchester behind the eight ball at the outset of their reply, first bowling skipper and gun batsman Dan Belt for a duck, then shifting fellow opener Nick Roe for two.

Steve Clifford hit 70, before becoming one of Ryan Norman’s (4-31) four victims, as the Swans edged towards the brink of victory.

Ultimately, however, they were left with a sense of déjà vu and looking increasingly vulnerable at the Premier League summit.