BLANDFORD United boss Jamie Murray admitted Hamworthy Recreation gave his side all the pre-match motivation they needed on Saturday.
The visitors went down 2-1 at Magna Road in the Dorset Premier League Cup Group B clash.
But coming hot on the heels of a 6-0 thrashing at Swanage the previous weekend, this result represented a huge step in the right direction for the Royals.
Despite Rec's reputation for coming out all guns blazing, it was Blandford who led at the break, courtesy of Joe Wells' effort on 38 minutes.
Jamie Moores levelled on 52 and Mike Notley struck a winner with 20 minutes left to ensure there would be no upset.
But Murray hailed the result as a "big improvement" and was grateful to Rec for underestimating his charges in the opening stages.
He said: "As a couple of the Hamworthy boys came off after their warm-up, our players heard them asking whether it was going to be eight or 12 goals this week.
"This riled our boys up and everyone did what they were asked to do, if not even more.
"When they scored that first goal, some were thinking here we go again'.
"We were hoping it wouldn't go to four or five and lads showed great resilience.
"In fact, we were the ones pushing for a goal at the end of the game.
"I think we were very unfortunate not to come away with something."
The DPL Cup has brought the best out of Blandford and their 2-0 triumph at Swanage in this competition is the Royals' only win of the season.
But they could be stripped of these points or forced to replay the game, staged on September 29, after fielding two ineligible players.
Should Swans pick up three points from this, they would be in a strong position in group B, following an impressive 2-2 draw at Holt United.
Lee Briscoe fired the away team in front from the spot just before the interval.
Paul Foley cancelled this out on 56 minutes and Kris Henshall gave Holt the initiative on 76.
But Jamie Dunn levelled two minutes later to give Swans a richly deserved share of the spoils.
There were goals galore in group D, as Cobham Sports and champions Westland Sports shared a 4-4 thriller at Merley.
Mark Rourke put the hosts in front on four minutes but Kevin Mitchell hit back for Westland two minutes later.
Rourke bagged a second on 10 and Tim Vukcevic struck just after the break to give Cobham a 3-1 advantage.
But the Yeovil team refused to be left behind and Mike Rousell and Phil Ormerod fired them back on to level terms.
Peter Goodbody gave Cobham the lead for the third time on 84 but they surrendered their advantage two minutes from time as Dean Vincent rescued a point for Westland.
The group's other clash was much more one sided, as Cranborne trounced Bridport 4-0.
James Antell notched a brace, while Oli Hepworth and Adam Beattie also got in on the act.
In group A, Sturminster Marshall's indifferent run of form continued, as they dropped a 1-0 lead to go down 3-1 at home to Wincanton Town.
New boy Erkan Mete fired them ahead but a Steve Devlin penalty was followed by strikes from Simon Bryant and Jon Vance for the visitors.
Poole Borough also struggled against West Dorset opposition, as Portland United trounced them 3-0 at Turlin Moor.
And in the day's other game, Hamworthy United had their colours lowered 4-1 at Gillingham Town in group C.
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