POOLE Town boss Tom Killick has offered a vote of thanks to Cherries after they answered the Dolphins’ goalkeeping SOS.

Killick was speaking after Cherries had agreed at the 11th hour to allow Liechtenstein international Benji Buchel to move to Tatnam on a month’s loan.

Poole faced a race against time to sign Buchel ahead of tonight’s Southern Premier clash against AFC Totton, although the fixture was subsequently postponed due to a waterlogged pitch.

Killick had been forced to seek emergency cover after Dolphins stopper Dan Thomas had sustained a dislocated shoulder after falling off a ladder. He is expected to be sidelined for around a month.

“AFC Bournemouth have been very good to us,” said Killick. “They allowed us to take Jordan Chiedozie earlier this season and came to our rescue at the last minute with Benji.

"If we hadn’t been able to sign him, we would have been in some difficulty and it is a godsend to get someone of his calibre.”

Buchel, who is likely to make his Dolphins debut when Poole face Corby Town on Saturday, has just returned to action following an eight-month layoff with a serious knee injury.

“I don’t know too much about him but he comes highly recommended by Neil Moss,” added Killick. “It is mutually beneficial because he probably needs a run of games having been out for so long and we get the benefit of a top quality goalkeeper for a month.”

Former Cherries apprentice Thomas had been deputising for Nick Hutchings, who is currently holidaying in Australia, while Buchel sustained his injury during a loan spell with Dorchester last season.