THE “perfect day” was how Dorchester Town manager Phil Simkin summed up his feelings after seeing his team claim a precious win at Eastbourne Borough.

Saturday’s victory in East Sussex, thanks to Sam Lanahan’s second-half strike, broke the Magpies’ six-game winless run and closed the gap on the other sides fighting to avoid relegation from Skrill South.

And Simkin reckons that the challenge now is to keep the current squad together for as long as possible in order to give the club the best chance of survival this season.

After managing to extend Charlie Losasso’s and Jake McCarthy’s loan deals for another month, the Magpies’ boss is keen to do the same with Warren Byerley and Nathan Walker.

But for now, Simkin is revelling in Saturday’s brilliant away day success against a side pushing for a place in the play-offs.

“It was a perfect day for us,” said Simkin. “Not only did we win the game but we played very well.

“We put in a performance at Farnborough and got nothing but this time we put in a performance and got three points.

“The pitch was heavy and the wind was horrendous but we dealt with that and got the result, and it’s not before time.

“We’ve showed people that we are still alive and if we keep this side together then they will give us a chance.”

On the game itself, he added: “We faced the wind in the first half and did really well, and then we scored about 10 minutes into the second half.

“Charlie Losasso, who was absolutely outstanding, played in Sam Lanahan and he buried it from just outside the box.

“They put us under pressure but we defended well, and the whole side played well. Charlie gets better with every game and he was twisting people inside out.”

Dorchester will look for another three points tomorrow when Havant & Waterlooville are the visitors to the Avenue (7.45pm).

Simkin expects a tough test from the Hampshire outfit, though the weekend’s success has provided his men with a big boost ahead of the fixture.

“I think Havant are the best side I’ve seen this season so it is going to be a very difficult game,” he said.

“But the boys are confident and that is what comes with winning games.”