MANAGER Tom Killick is determined to ensure lightning does not strike twice when Poole Town return to the scene of one of last season’s biggest setbacks.

Third-placed Dolphins, level on points with leaders Cambridge City and Corby Town in the embryonic Southern League standings, take their unbeaten record to slow starters Burnham tomorrow (3pm).

Poole’s shock 2-0 defeat at the Gore in March significantly dented their hopes of hitting the top five, a target Killick’s men fell just two points short of in the final reckoning.

And with that chastening defeat still fresh in his mind, the Tatnam boss is calling for a steely focus from his men ahead of their trip to Buckinghamshire.

Killick told the Daily Echo: “One thing I always stress to the players is the tiny difference between success and failure.

“It could be three points or less as we found last season and, in a strange way, you could say the defeat at Burnham caused us to miss out on the play-offs.

“We have started pretty well but if we were to lose, it could have the same effect. I have no doubt that the wounds from it are still pretty fresh for the people involved that day and they will be fired up to remedy that.”

Burnham shipped 11 goals en route to defeats in their opening three Premier Division matches but arrested the slide with a 2-1 win at Frome Town on Wednesday, but Killick has no concerns over Poole’s lofty position providing their hosts with extra motivation.

“We are there to be shot at either way,” he added. “It is pretty much accepted that we are one of the favourites and have one of the stronger sides in the league.

“From that point of view, other teams always try to up their game. League tables have little relevance at this stage.”

Killick confirmed he was not “actively pursuing” any transfer targets at this stage but stopped short of ruling out movement within his squad. Poole are set to name an unchanged squad.

Dolphins: Hutchings, Jermyn, Martin, Tallack, Walker, Whisken, Pettefer, Burbidge, Devlin, O’Hanlon, Preston, Davis, Roberts, Lindsay, Lowes, Manley (g/k).