BLANDFORD United boss Jamie Murray feels patience is a virtue of his charges, after they defeated Cobham Sports 3-0 at Park Road on Saturday.

The Royals racked up their fourth straight victory in the Dorset Premier League but once again, they made their supporters sweat.

It took 75 minutes for Matt Sutcliffe to open the scoring and break the Merley side's resistance.

United then put their visitors to the sword, as Jamie Haylock made it two with 10 minutes left, before Joe Wells completed the job right at the death.

Earlier this season, the Royals were without a win and were languishing eight points adrift at the bottom of the table.

But their recent white hot streak of form has lifted them three places to 12th and proud manager Murray hailed his young charges for not throwing in the towel.

He said: "There was a time when I was thinking 'will we ever win a game' but we suffered a little bit of bad luck at the start of the season.

"We were never really that far away from turning the corner and the players haven't changed - they have just got some confidence back.

"But there is nothing better than winning in football - you don't go out for a draw or defeat.

"Now that we are winning, there is a little bit more enjoyment and confidence about the place.

"If you're at the bottom and not earning points, getting a couple of victories dents the confidence of other teams around you.

"Those near the bottom are the teams we've got to beat and I was glad to get a win over one of them."

Given his side's Sahara Desert-like dry patch at the start of the season, Murray is used to waiting for his rewards.

But he was concerned that Cobham were going to make his men pay for making few clear-cut chances.

Murray added: "I didn't realise we left it quite so late because, due to the lack of officials, I was busy running the line.

"It was one of those games, where we had played well but hadn't created any guilt-edged chances.

"If you don't score when you're on top, you know what is going to happen - they'll go down the other end and sneak one.

"But once we got one, I was pretty confident we would at least hold it and I'm glad to say we got another two."

The Royals will now tackle title-chasers Poole Borough, whose campaign suffered a setback following a 2-0 defeat at home to Gillingham Town.

Nick Thompson blasted the Gills ahead after 67 minutes, before notching a second on 86 to secure the three points.

Elsewhere, Holt United continued their championship challenge, with a comfortable 3-0 triumph over visitors Bridport.

Denton McGowan put United in front after 39 minutes and Tony White doubled the advantage from the penalty spot on 53.

Nick Reynolds rounded off the scoring from close range two minutes from time.

But Holt remains seven points behind league leaders Portland United, who destroyed bottom side Cranborne 7-1 at Penny's Lane.

Dan Adlem scored the home team's only goal, as Matt White and Ross Carmichael bagged braces and Ross Doige, Adam Linaker and Mike Walker also found the net for the Islanders.

Three other Dorset Premier fixtures were set to take place last Saturday.

But Hamworthy Recreation v Wincanton Town, Sturminster Newton v Hamworthy United and Swanage Town and Herston v Sturminster Marshall were all postponed due to waterlogged pitches.