SWANAGE Town & Herston left it late to return to winning ways with an important 3-1 victory over Sturminster Marshall.

The Dorset Premier League contest was locked at 0-0 until the 70th minute, when Stur broke the deadlock through a Will Gage penalty.

But hosts Swanage rallied with Henry Counsell, Aaron Merredew and Jack Hughes all on target to ease relegation worries.

Coming into the game on the back of five straight losses, Swans were unable to convert the chances that came their way during an open first 45 minutes.

Will Prior twice missed the target from good positions, while Sturminster Marshall saw one of their efforts come back off the post.

Goalkeeper Taylor Hibbs was also called into action to make an impressive stop, before Charlie Dyke produced a vital clearance to preserve the clean sheet going into half-time.

The visitors got their noses in front when captain Gage fired home from the penalty spot, but that sparked Swanage back into life.

Seven minutes later, Counsell diverted Charlie Brassington's long-range strike past goalkeeper Joshua Curtis-Hicks.

On 85 minutes, Swans took the lead, top scorer Merredew's free-kick going in via the post.

And there was time for further gloss to the score. Shortly after Counsell's effort had smashed the crossbar, Hughes fired home after being teed up by man-of-the-match Prior.