BOSS Tom Killick leapt to the defence of skipper Jamie Whisken after he had seen red in Poole’s eventful 1-0 win over National South rivals Margate at Tatnam.

Whisken received his marching orders having been deemed by referee Paul Kelly to have denied the visitors a goalscoring opportunity during the closing stages.

The incident saw Margate awarded a free-kick on the edge of the box, although players and officials in their camp were convinced they should have been given a penalty.

Margate’s Danny Fitzsimons, who had been substituted, appeared to be sent from the bench for his protestations, as did visiting boss Nikki Bull.

Earlier, James Granger’s well-executed goal had earned the Dolphins a third successive 1-0 home victory – with Steve Devlin seeing his 47th-minute penalty superbly saved by Margate goalkeeper Lewis Ward.

Killick told the Daily Echo: “There was some debate as to whether it should have been a penalty or a free-kick on the edge of the box.

“The referee gave a free-kick and their players were fairly apoplectic about that so I think he then decided to send off Jamie when it was never a sending off. The ball went really wide so it was never a clear goalscoring opportunity.

“They felt hard done by because they thought it should have been a penalty and we did because we felt it was definitely not a sending off. I think the referee and his two assistants will probably accept it wasn’t a good day for them.”

Asked whether the club would appeal the dismissal, Killick replied: “Not unless someone has any footage on their mobile phone.

“We didn’t have the game videoed so won’t be able to appeal. Had we had the benefit of video evidence, there is no doubt in my mind that the decision would have been appealable. The only saving grace is that it is a one-match ban so we will have to accept it.”

Victory saw Poole climb to sixth in the table, while goalkeeper Nick Hutchings, who was named man of the match following his outstanding display, kept a fourth successive clean sheet.

Killick added: “It was quite even in the first half. They played a diamond in midfield and it troubled us at times. They looked a useful side but we probably had as many opportunities as them in the first half.

“We started quite well in the second half and got the penalty. When we missed it, we seemed to suffer a little mentally and they were probably a bit stronger.

“We scored and, as has been the case in our two other home games, we had to withstand a fair amount of pressure but defended really well and saw out the game.

“James Granger took his goal really well and performed with real maturity because the game got quite frantic and he played well.

“When you take into account we only had 13 fit outfield players and saw out the game with 10 men, it was another brilliant effort.”

Dolphins: Hutchings, Case, Whisken, Spetch, Walker, Burbidge, Devlin, Roberts, Pettefer, Wort, Gillespie. Unused subs: Davis, Gleeson, Baggie, Rees (g/k).