BOSS Tom Killick labelled Poole Town’s performance “inadequate” after they had scraped through to the next round of the FA Trophy.

The Dolphins forced extra-time thanks to Will Spetch’s late leveller before progressing courtesy of Steve Devlin’s penalty and a Michael Charles strike.

“I am probably as unhappy as you can be when you have just won a game,” Killick told the Daily Echo. “I knew, psychologically, it would be difficult for us but I didn’t think that was any excuse for the way we performed.

“Physically and mentally, we just had a very bad afternoon and we were fortunate to win.

“We didn’t deserve to progress. We should have probably had a painful lesson and that is why we spoke to the players at length after the game.”

Poole, knocked out of the FA Cup by Staines Town in midweek, appeared to be heading out of the Trophy after Aaron Ledgister had cut inside and rifled the ball past Nick Hutchings after just five minutes.

Despite a lacklustre showing during the opening period, Poole gave themselves a lifeline with six minutes of normal time remaining.

A surging run from Marvin Brooks began a brisk breakaway, during which substitute Charles squared the ball for Spetch to slot home and force extra-time.

The talented defender was again involved as Poole took the lead, Spetch brought down after beating Frome’s Jonny Lynn inside the penalty area with referee Gary Parsons having no hesitation in awarding a spot kick.

Midfielder Devlin coolly stroked home from the spot to put Poole ahead for the first time in the tie after a total of 203 minutes against the Somerset outfit, the teams having drawn 1-1 at Frome last month.

Devlin then whipped in a pinpoint cross for Charles to finish as the hosts earned a second qualifying round trip to Arlesey Town on Tuesday.

Killick added: “I always felt in extra-time we were going to be a bit stronger. It was a relief because there was a lot financially on the game and we were desperate to progress.

“The fact that we won doesn’t gloss over the inadequacies and the inept nature of what went on.

“We know we are going to have to be a lot better at Arlesey if we are going to even consider progressing.”

The victory scooped Killick’s men £2,700 in prize money in front of a crowd of 245.

Dolphins: Hutchings, Brooks, Spetch, Cummings, Whisken, Pettefer, Davies (Dibba, 66), Devlin, Byerley (Charles, h-t), Preston, Elliott (Cann, h-t) Unused subs: Richardson, Thomas (g/k).