TOM Killick backed Dan Thomas over his rare aberration after the goalkeeper produced a string of fine saves in Poole’s tight 1-0 victory over Truro City.

The ex-Cherries custodian put in a near faultless display, including a fine double stop from White Tigers duo Monty Berrow and Liam Eddy during the first half.

However, Poole’s solid if unspectacular work was nearly undone when Thomas bundled over Eddy just outside the penalty area after City’s frontman had beaten him to a through ball with 19 minutes to play.

Referee Will Bull consulted his assistant, who had flagged for the offence, and brandished only a yellow card, much to the visitors’ disgust.

Thomas then rubbed salt into the wound when he somehow adjusted his body to keep out Jordan Copp’s deflected effort five minutes from time as Dolphins secured a much-needed maximum haul in their push for the play-offs.

But Killick, whose side created as much as their opponents in a match of few chances, felt the man in the middle had got the decision spot on.

Poole’s manager told the Daily Echo: “He called it correctly. Even if the lad had got round Dan, there was no way it was a red card in my view because there were two defenders covering.

“I was in line with the incident and it was outside the penalty area so I felt the referee got it right.”

The decisive goal arrived on 16 minutes when Marvin Brooks pressurised two Truro defenders before Carl Preston lashed home a loose clearance on the half volley from the edge of the penalty area.

And while Killick admitted Poole had not been at their best, he was happy with Dolphins’ steely performance.

He added: “I was pleased because we had talked about being more compact and resilient so that if we didn’t hit the heights in games, we could still come away with the points.

“It was tricky, Truro have just changed their manager and were lively at the start. They have some good players and I was much happier with the result than I was with the win against Totton (on Tuesday).

“We know there is more to come from us as an attacking force but by doing the right things, we can give ourselves a chance in games. With the run we are facing, we’re not going to produce our fluent best game after game.”

Tomorrow, Poole host Frome Town (7.45pm) in the second of four league matches in eight days. Killick expects to name an unchanged squad but Carl Pettefer (groin) will face a late fitness test.

Dolphins: Thomas, Muleba, Spetch, Martin, Whisken, Pettefer (Dibba, 85), Burbidge, Devlin, Charles (Davies, 77), Preston (Elliott, 68), Brooks. Unused subs: Gillespie, Hutchings (g/k).