TOM Killick reckons his injury-hit Poole Town squad are getting by in National South thanks to a whiff of love in the air.

Luke Burbidge saved the day with a last-minute leveller in Saturday’s 2-2 draw at Wealdstone, an intervention that extended to seven matches Dolphins’ unbeaten run.

Elliot Benyon bundled the home side in front midway through the first half but Steve Devlin levelled from the penalty spot four minutes from half-time after Luke Roberts had been nudged over while chasing a bouncing ball.

Benyon bagged what looked likely to be the winner on 69 minutes but Burbidge blasted home a crisp half volley from the edge of the box as the clock struck 90.

While boss Killick admitted Poole had not been at the races, he praised the togetherness of his threadbare squad which was reduced to 14 fit and available players when defender Will Spetch was taken ill en route to London.

Explaining his side’s resolute streak, Killick told the Daily Echo: “The camaraderie, togetherness and affection we all have for each other is a strong feature of how we play and that has been evident in our performances.

“Perhaps we have surprised one or two people. Some might have expected us to fail, even wanted us to fail but that comes with success.

“We didn’t play particularly well. It was not a fluent performance by any means but we kept going and were rewarded with a late equaliser.

"Burbs’s goal at the end was a brilliant strike and was worthy of getting us a point. Lewis Lindsay was excellent defensively as well.

“We are really under the cosh in terms of injuries and things don’t look like getting any better on that front.

"I thought we might be blessed to two senior outfield players we could actually bring off the bench this week but as it turned out, we were back down to one when Spetchy got taken ill.

“But as tricky as things have been, the character of the players has never been in doubt.

“We are really digging in and having a good group of players together for the amount of time we have has been key to that.

“We are fully aware that it is only a good start, we are not getting carried away but we do feel we have proved we can be competitive at this level.”

Even after completing eight league matches in 29 days, the fixtures continue to come thick and fast in the midst of the injury crisis with Tuesday’s trip to St Albans next on the agenda (7.45).

“I might have to buy a pair of boots and find some shorts that fit me,” Killick quipped.

“We are painfully thin but we will just plough on for now and hopefully get some bodies back soon.”

Dolphins: Hutchings, Lindsay, Walker, Whisken, Case, Baggie (Surridge, 58), Granger, Devlin, Roberts, Burbidge, Wort. Unused subs: Davis, Pettefer, Spetch, Rees (g/k).