Killick makes league bet boast as Wimborne claim cup bragging rights (From Bournemouth Echo)

Killick makes league bet boast as Wimborne claim cup bragging rights

12:12am Thursday 22nd November 2012 in Sport By Neil Perrett

EX-FACTOR: Former Poole striker Steve Smith celebrates his goal last night. Picture: Charlotte Sprake

WIMBORNE Town finally laid claim to the Dorset bragging rights – even if their victory over 10-man Poole Town failed to silence Dolphins boss Tom Killick.

Poole old boys Micky Hubbard (two) and Steve Smith were both on target as the Magpies eased into the third round of the Southern League Cup with a 3-0 win at Cuthbury last night.

Hubbard paved the way for Wimborne’s first triumph over Poole for more than three years when he opened the scoring from the penalty spot after Will Spetch had seen red for a professional foul.

Spetch was sent packing by referee Martin Bloor after hauling down Jamie Davidson in the 17th minute before injury-time strikes from Hubbard and Smith somewhat flattered the scoreline.

The hosts’ raucous post-match celebrations included chanting mocking jibes outside the Poole dressing room, while a page from yesterday’s Daily Echo was pinned on the Wimborne changing room door. Their actions were in response to Killick’s pre-match comments when the Poole boss had said no player in the Wimborne squad would improve his team.

Some Wimborne players have been dining out for weeks on the suggestion from one Dolphins supporter that they are nothing more than Poole Town’s reserves.

Magpies skipper Scott Arnold told the Daily Echo: “We were so determined to win, especially after what Tom had said in the paper. I posted it on the changing room wall before the game and that did our team-talk. I don’t know why he does it, it is unbelievable.”

However, despite seeing his team suffer a heavy and somewhat humiliating defeat, Killick added further fuel to the fire when he conducted a post-match interview with Hot Radio.

He said: “I stand by my comments. I was asked a question "would I have any Wimborne players in my starting 11?" The answer was no and is still.

"If anyone in the Wimborne changing room wants to have a wager with me on which team will finish higher in the league, I will take all bets.

"Surely the assessment for which is the best team will come in May when we look at the league table. If they are above us, they can come and prance up and down outside our changing room and bang on the door. If they are below us, perhaps they should just keep quiet and try to get a bit better."

Killick said he had “no complaints” with Spetch’s dismissal, with Hubbard netting the spot kick despite the best efforts of Poole goalkeeper Nick Hutchings to save.

A largely uneventful contest was put to bed by Wimborne in the closing stages when Hubbard squeezed a free-kick past Hutchings and substitute Smith finished with aplomb to complete the scoring.

Several Wimborne players have taken to Twitter to post comments on the running feud, while ex-Poole Town striker Charlie Austin, now with Championship club Burnley, has also joined the debate.

Magpies: Harvell, Arnold, Cole, Costello, Peprah-Annan, Blake, Gill (Sainsbury, 77), Hubbard, Jeffes (Smith, 80), Davidson (Kemble, 85), Webb. Unused subs: Roast, Ackerman (g/k).

Dolphins: Hutchings, Baines (Sturgess, 88), Spetch, Emmerson, Walker, Collier (Richardson, 36), Wilson (Lammali, 66), Devlin, Byerley, Preston, Brooks. Unused subs: Clarke, Brown (g/k).