POOLE Town boss Tom Killick heaped praise on his players after they had emerged triumphant from another feisty encounter with old adversaries Hungerford Town last night.

Keith Emmerson bagged the only goal of the game at Tatnam as the Dolphins extended to six points their lead at the top of the Southern League Premier Division table.

Killick told the Daily Echo: “I was slightly apprehensive about the game because, historically, we have always had really close encounters with them and haven’t always come out on top.

“There does seem to be a bit of bad feeling between the teams and it does often seem to degenerate into an intense affair and last night was certainly no different.

“They are renowned for being an aggressive team, we knew that was what they would bring and they didn’t disappoint. We were a bit depleted before the game and more so at the end, so to come out on top was a great reaction from the players.

“Hungerford have been reasonably successful doing what they are doing so I am sure they have no intention of changing. When you play them, you have to be ready for what it brings.

“The referee was quite relaxed and, although I would have found his approach quite refreshing in a lot of games, it didn’t really suit the occasion. Some pretty bad tackles went unpunished early on and it set the tone for the whole game.”

Poole had Carl Pettefer carried off following a heavy challenge after just five minutes before Luke Burbidge was forced off with an injury six minutes into the second half.

Emmerson, who had been deployed in a striker’s role due to Poole’s dearth of available frontmen, settled the issue in favour of the Dolphins when he scored a finely-taken goal in the 55th minute.

Killick added: “It is not unfamiliar to him because he has played there for his Army regiment. On the strength of his performance, his all-round play was exceptional and he scored a very good goal with his weaker foot. He was very impressive.”

Killick, who saw goalkeeper Nick Hutchings keep a 10th clean sheet in 15 games, said he expected to have striker Richard Gillespie back from a work placement in Australia towards the middle of November.

Dolphins: Hutchings, Tallack, Martin, Jermyn, Whisken, Pettefer (Devlin, 13), Burbidge (Dickson, 51), Lindsay, Emmerson, Roberts, Brooks. Unused subs: Lowes, Munday, Manley (g/k).

  • Christchurch and Wimborne Town will tomorrow both be hoping to book place in the first round of the FA Youth Cup. Priory host Havant & Waterlooville at Hurn Bridge, while the Magpies travel to Bracknell Town (both 7.45pm).