HARD-to-please boss Tom Killick insisted Poole Town's imperious start to the campaign had not exceeded his expectations following last night's eye-catching win over Slough.

Steve Devlin's swerving free kick and a 25-yard thunderbolt from full-back Keith Emmerson earned Dolphins an eighth win in nine league matches and maintained their five-point cushion at the Southern Premier summit.

James Dobson's sweet strike handed the plucky Rebels a late lifeline but the hosts held out to strengthen their grip on top spot and become the new bookmakers' favourites to lift the title.

But while many at Tatnam pinch themselves over Poole's lofty position, the manager admitted his side's impressive return was only on a par with his exacting demands.

Discussing his side's tally, Killick told the Daily Echo: “If I had looked at the fixtures we have played so far, which ones would I have thought we would lose? I would have been disappointed if we had dropped many more points than we have.

“In a strange way it's not the results that please me the most, it's more the quality I can see. With the mentality of the group and how good we seem to be physically, I think we look quite impressive.

“I was disappointed with how the (Slough) game finished because we played well throughout and looked in complete control after the second goal.

“We have produced good performances in matches where some people might have questioned the level of the opposition but you couldn't criticise Slough in that respect. They were a good side but we still managed to stamp our authority on the match.

“They looked as if they had lost any real ambition to win the game but we became a little bit negative which gave them the initiative and when they scored it suddenly became panicky when it needn't have been.

“But the results continue to come our way and I am excited about how powerful the group look. Hopefully we can keep it going.”

It wasn't all good news for Dolphins, however, as Cherries loanee Josh O'Hanlon hobbled off with a knee injury having been caught by a late challenge shortly after the opening goal.

But having received clearance to play O'Hanlon, his Cherries colleague Sam Matthews and Gosport's Mike Gosney in the FA Cup this weekend, Killick was cautiously optimistic over the Irish striker's prognosis.

“Josh has a very sore knee and we just have to hope it's not a long-term thing,” he said.

“Impact injuries like that tend to be less serious but he will be assessed by Bournemouth to make sure there is nothing sinister.

“He's a big, strong lad and quite resilient so hopefully he will play on Saturday. We'll have to wait and see.”

Dolphins: Hutchings, Tallack, Emmerson, Walker, Whisken, Pettefer, Burbidge, Devlin (Gosney, 73), O'Hanlon (Roberts, 60), Preston, Jermyn. Unused subs: Martin, Munday, Lindsay.