TOM Killick believes Poole Town’s imperious displays in the FA Youth Cup prove that the club’s youngsters are capable of competing in senior football.

Dolphins marched into the third and final qualifying round of the national competition with a comfortable 3-0 success over Chippenham on Wednesday.

Brad Goddard rounded off a slick passing move by demonstrating good close control before slamming home a cut back from the right during the opening exchanges.

Poole continually pressed their opponents and it came as no surprise when Morgan Turner, the scorer of a hat-trick in the previous round against Moneyfields, thumped into the net from close range nine minutes before half-time.

The hosts spurned a number of second-half openings but eventually notched their third when Turner’s mesmeric run set up livewire Jack Dickson to score during the latter stages.

Reflecting on the one-sided contest, Killick told the Daily Echo: “By the second half we had ground them down through total domination. We retained possession really well and that was the pleasing thing about it.

“Ideally we would have scored a couple more goals but the display was a real credit to the club. They’re a great bunch and I do wonder how they would do as a group in senior football.

“We have put the under-21s up against some strong senior sides and I believe they would be a very strong team in the Wessex League.

“Many of those lads are under 18 and playing in this competition. We are looking powerful individually and as a unit and Nick Spetch, who coordinates the whole thing, deserves a lot of credit for that.”

Poole entertain their counterparts from Conference club Woking on Wednesday, October 22 for a place in the competition proper, the stage at which clubs from League One and League Two enter their youth teams.

Dolphins: Jackson, White, Coombes, Hanratty (North, 87), Gibbs (Glatzel, h-t), Helyar, Dickson, Lowes, Munday, Turner (Williams, 85), Goddard. Unused subs: Lambert, Crane.

  • Sami Makhloufi netted an injury-time winner as Bournemouth Poppies progressed with a 3-2 win at Walton & Hersham.

Makhloufi had handed Poppies a sixth-minute lead before the hosts equalised after half an hour.

Callum Dee restored Poppies’ advantage on 36 minutes but Walton & Hersham again levelled with the 90 minutes almost up.

However, with extra-time looming Makhloufi completed his brace and set up a home tie with either Oxford City or Farnham – who were due to meet last night – in the third qualifying round.

Wimborne Town also secured a comfortable passage with a 2-0 victory over Fleet Town. The Magpies took the lead through an own goal in the first half before Matt Morris made sure of the result late on.