DELIGHTED Dorchester Town boss Steve Thompson admitted the Magpies had to “dig in” during their 1-0 Evo-Stik Southern Premier South derby win over Poole Town at the Black Gold Stadium.

Thompson watched on as a solitary Ben Seymour goal ensured opposing boss Tom Killick tasted defeat in his 800th game in charge, Thompson himself overseeing just his 77th at the county town side.

Dorchester were pushed closely by the Dolphins, who twice hit the bar through James Constable, while Luke Roberts and Sam Griffin both missed presentable opportunities.

The Magpies were not without chances themselves, Kyle Egan, Antonio Diaz and Cameron Murray all going close in an entertaining game.

Seymour’s strike, his 12th in a Dorchester shirt, helped Thompson’s men into 16th and remarkably the Magpies now sit top of the away league form table with 23 points including seven wins.

Speaking to Echosport after the game, Thompson said: “I’m delighted with the win, we had to really dig in.

“Poole came at us in the first 20 minutes of the second half and they had some good chances.

“We ended up having some good chances on the counter attack and I thought in the last 15 we defended a lot better, because the first 20 was very hairy.

“We rode our luck a bit but I’m delighted with the win and our away form is unbelievable at the moment, let’s hope we continue it on Saturday with Barnet, but obviously that’s going to be unbelievably tough.”

Thompson was also satisfied with the clean sheet, coming on ex-Dolphin Nick Hutchings’ debut.

He said: “A clean sheet is always pleasing, we don’t have loads of them.

“We’re not going to get carried away, we know we’re still in a fight down there with 11-12 teams for two slots.

“It looks like Staines are set adrift but there are two other (relegation places) to go.”