Crap! What was I thinking? Yes, split is not the right solution for this situation.

OP, apologies - please take johngg's solution. A global match is a better solution than mine.

Update: added link to solution I was referring to

In reply to Re^3: Splitting only on internal pattern, not at start or end of string by robby_dobby
in thread Splitting only on internal pattern, not at start or end of string by BiologySwede

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