IF POOLE Town had any doubts over the task they faced during this new era, Stonebridge Road provided it.

Despite the demolition of the terrace regarded as a heartland for Ebbsfleet United’s more vociferous supporters, the ground still has a sense of grandeur. It is what traditionalists call a proper stadium.

Then consider the seven-figure playing budget, the history of featuring regularly at non-league’s top table and the small matter of winning the FA Trophy at Wembley just eight years ago and the reality of National South is immediately apparent.

Granted, the Dolphins will not face opposition with the quality, backing and reputation of Fleet every week in their new surroundings but this harsh lesson should be enough to make anyone realise that the seven top-two finishes in the past eight seasons is likely to be a thing of the past for now.

Poole’s challenge is not only to compete at the level they have battled for more than 20 years to return to, it is to maintain the fanbase they have rebuilt during that journey.

For the red and white army, so used to winning week after week, expectation has to convert to hope – a tricky transition for the most hardened fan.

Tom Killick’s charges performed reasonably well, largely held their shape even when the scoreline nosedived and could have been level, even ahead, at half-time.

But in truth, they were beaten 4-0 by a better, more powerful side.

On occasion, that will happen but how do you start to stomach that sharp, unpleasant medicine after being one of the dominant forces at each level they have competed in for so long.

Provided things continue to progress as they usually have, this will be no glass ceiling for Poole but the learning curve will take more negotiating than any other.

Killick put together a familiar-looking team with Luke Roberts preferred up front to summer recruit Lee Wort and Richard Gillespie.

Ex-Cherries youngster Ryan Case came in at left-back with Will Spetch reverting to centre-half in place of the suspended Michael Walker.

Ebbsfleet soon established a foothold in terms of possession and although the visitors looked slightly nervous on the ball, they created two moments of promise.

Abdulai Baggie picked the pocket of Sean Shields and rolled Roberts down the left but the ex-AFC Totton striker’s effort across goal was comfortably grasped by former Gosport Borough keeper Nathan Ashmore.

Then Case pinched the ball on the left before finding Baggie in the box with the half clearance falling for Carl Pettefer to drag wide from 18 yards.

The blue touch paper was lit when Jordan Parkes’s shot was charged down by Spetch but the ricochet was sent flying into the top corner by Rance’s blistering first-time hit from 20 yards.

Poole sought a swift route back into the game but they were dealt a blow when Marvin Brooks limped off appearing to hold his knee. He was replaced by Wort.

The visitors continued to probe and were left frustrated when an intricate passage of play on the edge of the box ended with Wort scuffing into the grateful hands of Ashmore after Baggie had again set alarm bells ringing in the Ebbsfleet backline.

At the other end, Parkes unleashed a thunderous drive from the corner of the box which Poole custodian Nick Hutchings had to be alert to smother.

Wing-back Shields might have been struggling to get to grips with Baggie but he continued to provide a threat going forward, digging out a cross to the far post which dropped kindly for Fleet skipper Danny Kedwell but his snapshot was covered by fellow captain Jamie Whisken.

But as menacing as United looked in attack, Poole steadily settled and forced a series of cynical fouls as the half drew to a close.

The visitors could have levelled when a cavalier pass back to Ashmore almost presented Baggie with an open goal but the giant stopper recovered just in time.

Baggie’s swirling free-kick was glanced by Wort into Ashmore’s hands as Poole upped the ante in the build-up to half-time.

In a bid to shackle Baggie, United switched to a flat back four from the restart and the game was soon taken away from the Dolphins.

Jack Powell latched on to a loose ball in the middle of the park and released Kedwell to stride past Spetch, into the box and lash across Hutchings.

For all of Poole’s promise before the break, there was an overwhelming sense the game was up and it could soon have been three.

A low centre from the right looked impossible to defend with Kedwell nudging against the far post before Poole scrambled the ball to safety.

The tempo died down for a spell but Fleet ominously found another gear after making changes midway through the second half.  And when substitute Anthony Cook, whose direct running was an unwelcome sight for a tiring visiting defence, galloped down the left to pick out Kedwell, the bullish frontrunner calmly planted home a header from close range.

Number four arrived when Powell opened up Poole with a perfectly-weighted cross-field pass to release Cook, who was unceremoniously upended by Poole substitute Nilo Zanchetta.

Powell stepped up and curled home a delightful free-kick from just outside the left corner of the box that had far too much pace for Hutchings to handle. He knew where it was going but was powerless to alter its destiny.

Try as they might, Dolphins could not muster a serious threat late on as the match petered out.

It was a chastening experience that comes with the territory but as long as everyone can dust off their supply of patience, hidden away at the back of the cupboard for so long, things will work out in the long run.

At Poole, they always tend to.