ASSISTANT boss James Wood praised Poole Town’s game management after Dolphins had got their Southern Premier title bid back on track at Arlesey.

Goals from captain Jamie Whisken and loanee Mason Walsh saw the Tatnam outfit secure a 2-0 win and bounce back from Saturday’s defeat to Bideford.

Victory left Poole a single point behind league leaders Corby with three games in hand.

Dolphins hit the front midway through the first half when loan ace Joe Quigley skipped away from his marker and crossed for Whisken to head firmly home.

Soon after the restart, the lead was doubled. Cherries youngster Mason Walsh cut in off the left wing, worked his way into the box and beat keeper Nick Thompson.

Wood, who took charge in the absence of banned boss Tom Killick, told the Daily Echo: “Arlesey were a real threat going forward, they broke quickly on us and had good pace and ability.

“Fair play to the lads, I was very pleased with their performance. There was a good energy about them and we were on the front foot going forward.

“It was quite an open game – probably too open for our liking – we scored goals and created chances but so did they.

“We talked at half-time about being a little bit more cautious and not throwing too many bodies forward, and we saw out the second half a lot better.

“Three points was vital for us after the blip at the weekend.”

Dolphins: Hutchings, Tallack (Spetch, 67), Lindsay, Walker, Whisken, Pettefer, Burbidge, Devlin, Quigley (Davis, 82), Roberts, Walsh (Lowes, 88). Unused subs: Whelan, Yates.