RUEFUL boss Tom Killick felt Poole Town’s youngsters had missed a chance to shine as Torquay United punished defensive lapses to progress in the FA Youth Cup.

Dolphins lost 2-1 at Tatnam as Josh Lynch and Liam Prynn pounced either side of the interval to put United in command of the first round proper tie at Tatnam.

Poole struggled to make an impression in the final third against their strong and resolute visitors, even after Torquay’s Johnny Buckle was given a straight red card for an elbow seven minutes from time.

Todd Coombes did scramble home from a corner for the hosts five minutes into added time but it proved to be the last act with referee Martin Bloor blowing the full-time whistle immediately after the match had restarted.

Killick was quick to acknowledge the Torquay quality had displayed but Poole’s first-team manager felt his rookie charges had underperformed on their big night.

“The overwhelming disappointment for us was not exiting competition but the fact we did not do ourselves justice," said Killick.

“Torquay were a step up from our previous opponents and deserved their win but we know our performance was below what it should have been.

“When you go out of a cup competition in those circumstances it is harder to take than when you give it a good go and get beaten by a better side. Those defeats are painful but easier to take.

“I don’t know whether our best would have been enough to win the game but we would certainly have been more competitive.

“Torquay did stop us from playing but we didn’t pass the ball at all well which we had done in previous games. Not enough players played to their full potential.”

But despite the setback, Killick said Poole’s run had been a tremendous boost for the club’s youngsters looking to force their way into his first-team plans.

He added: “The whole point is to create a proper pathway to senior football.

“The under-21 set up being run by Nick Spetch and Rob Bayston with the help of Shaun Brooks is brilliant and a lot of the under-18s will get their chance at that level as the season goes on.

“Three of the under-18s have started first-team matches and that is what we want, the best young players in the area coming here, knowing they will get a chance if they put in the work and impress in the under-21s.”

Dolphins: Jackson, White (Glatzel, 69), Coombes, Hanratty, Gibbs, Helyar, Dickson, Lowes, Munday, Turner (Sharp, 81), Goddard (Williams, 90). Unused subs: North, O’Dell.