TERRY JENKINS admits that his win over Phil Taylor in the Whyte & Mackay Premier League Darts was an ideal confidence boost.
The world number five had kicked off the Premier League with narrow defeats to Adrian Lewis and James Wade before seeing off Taylor 8-5 in Manchester on Thursday.
Having reached five televised finals in a year during 2006 and 2007, he had entered the Premier League low on both form and confidence following a first round exit at the Ladbrokes.com PDC World
Darts Championship.
However, he is hoping that the win over Taylor in front of 4,500 fans at the M.E.N. Arena will kick-start his Premier League challenge.
"To beat Phil is just the thing that you need to get your confidence back - there's nothing better you could do," said Jenkins.
"I really needed that because I have been struggling.
"I've been playing really well, but I needed something to happen to get me back on, and I think that will do it."
Jenkins had missed a host of darts to defeat Kirk Shepherd in the World Championship in December, and he admitted to having nervous moments before seeing off Taylor.
He missed five darts for an 8-3 triumph before resisting Taylor's fightback to claim his first win of the 2008 Premier League.
"I suppose you think back [to Christmas], but all I thought at the moment I missed those darts was that although I'd thrown that leg away I was still 7-4 up," he said.
"I knew I had one leg where I was throwing with my darts, and I had to concentrate on that and make sure I won that leg."
Jenkins takes on world number one Raymond van Barneveld in Coventry in Week Four, with the Dutchman having won his opening three matches.
"Barney is just as good a player as Phil and it's going to be another tough game - but they all are in this tournament," added Jenkins.
"I got off to a good start against Phil whereas I didn't in the first two weeks and that's where I lost the two matches.
"It is coming back and I'm happy with my practice, and that's starting to show in matches."
Click here to purchase the official 2008 Whyte & Mackay Premier League Darts programme