CRANBORNE’S rookie boss Carl Poore admits he is still coming to terms with treading the delicate line between management and being one of the boys.

Poore has revived the Cranes’ fortunes in recent weeks following a tough baptism in his first job since hanging up his boots last season.

Goals from Chris Bush and Greg O’Mallo helped them climb to 13th following a third win in four – a far cry from when they were bottom with just one point from their first six games.

Poore, who was forced to retire due to injury in February, agreed to take the reins at his local club where the majority of the players are also his mates.

The 30-year-old told the Daily Echo: “Dealing with players is something new to me and it can be tough as I am friends with most of them. I have told them football is different to social because we are here to win games. We have to keep it separate and they accept that.

“I still find it difficult though and there have been a couple of times when I have had a go at them in the changing room and then I don’t get spoken to in the bar afterwards!

“It is one of those things. When you see the lads socially, you don’t know how they are going to respond when you have to give them a rollicking.”

Victory at Day’s Park was Cranes’ third against Swans this season following wins in the Dorset Senior Cup and League Cup. Poore’s men have responded in style after taking some heavy beatings, including 9-0 at Portland and 8-0 against Hamworthy Rec.

Poore added: “We spoke about it and said we didn’t want to be the whipping boys in this league. They are all good players and they just needed a bit of belief. I don’t think they believed in themselves or their team-mates and I told them they had to have faith in each other. They have responded brilliantly.

“We beat Portland a few weeks after they had given us a good going-over and the atmosphere in the changing room has been excellent since then. The players have developed a winning mentality and there is a good buzz around the club.

“We battled well against Swanage, although it wasn’t the prettiest game. They are a good team and we defended superbly and took our chances. They had three really good opportunities but just couldn’t convert them. They have been on good form so to beat them was a good result for us.”

Swans boss Alan Lay said: “We have played Cranborne three times this season and lost every time. It is fair to say that we haven’t had much luck but I am pleased for Carl and Cranborne.

“Carl is a great manager and he is getting the best out of an experienced and talented bunch of lads. If they keep the same spirit and attitude through to the end of the season, they will do well.”

Swans: Broome, Robinson (Young, 75), Cooper, Mullins, Harding, Watson, Harrop, Beale, Reavenall-Nuete (Cameron, 68), R Best, Stratford (King, 55).

Cranes: A Loader, Parsons, Hand, Bush, Read, Park, Reynolds-McGowan (Anderton, 85), Hepworth, O’Mallo, Bessellem (Rose, 65), Day (House, 65).