TOM Killick reckons Poole Town could be better placed to last the distance in this season’s Southern League title race – provided they avoid the distraction of the finishing post.

Dolphins extended to five points their lead at the Premier Division summit with a classy 3-0 win over St Neots, completing a league double over the side that ended their play-off dream last season.

That painful exit came on the back of Poole winning two of their final eight league matches, culminating in a dramatic final-day title-shootout defeat to eventual champions Corby.

Manager Killick admitted performances at Tatnam had finally returned to their usual standard in recent weeks but urged his troops not to get carried away.

Comparing the campaigns, Killick told the Daily Echo: “Everything looked so comprehensive for so long last season so the one thing we have learned is not to look too far ahead.

“We have to deal with the here and now. We’re in a good vein of form at the moment so we have to be relentless to put distance between ourselves and the others.

“It is a long, arduous season and you just have to plough on. We have learned a lot of lessons from last season and perhaps one of them is to look shorter-term when it comes to results and league positions.

“In our past two home games, we have moved the ball very well and looked quite potent but it can easily change.

“You do get these hot streaks in a season and it is important to take full advantage of them so when your form takes a bit of a dip, which it inevitably does, you are still in a strong position.

“I am pleased with the balance of the team at the moment. We have decent power in attacking areas and teams are struggling to contain us so we have to try to keep everyone fit and hopefully, continue this good run.

Defender Will Spetch’s shot crept through the grasp of Saints keeper Andrew Wilton after five minutes with the hosts missing a number of presentable chances.

Luke Burbidge made it two six minutes after half-time with a low drive from a half-cleared corner before Michael Walker made sure of the points, nudging home Steve Devlin’s 72nd-minute corner.

Killick told the Daily Echo: “We were composed and passed it well but the biggest thing that pleased me was how we dealt with their attacking threat because you will struggle to find a better front two in the league.

“We were without Jamie Whisken but Will Spetch was calm, composed and absolutely superb. He didn’t put a foot wrong.”

Dolphins: Hutchings, Tallack, Lindsay (Salama, 76), Walker, Spetch, Pettefer, Burbidge, Devlin (Connell, 76), Roberts (Holmes, 76), Brooks, Dickson. Unused subs: Gleeson, Rees (g/k).