POOLE Town boss Tom Killick was relieved to see his side pass their Biggleswade test with a 2-1 away win to return to the Southern League summit.

After David Hutton had beaten Dolphins keeper Nick Hutchings early on, a swift counter-attack saw Richard Gillespie tee up Luke Burbidge for the leveller.

Midway through the second period, Gillespie bundled the ball into the roof of the net from close range after his initial header had been saved.

Biggleswade’s misery was compounded when Ollie Thorne was dismissed late on following his second caution of the night.

Killick told the Daily Echo: “Biggleswade’s last home match was their defeat of Corby so we were a little bit apprehensive.

“Things were looking difficult when we went a goal down but I think that equalising just before half-time was important.

“In the second half we were frustrated by good goalkeeping and defending and it looked like we might struggle to break through. Thankfully, Richard Gillespie popped up with a very important goal.

“As you’d expect, having gone 2-1 in front, we were put under a degree of pressure towards the end of the game but I thought we defended well.

"Biggleswade were a very competent side so we were pleased to prevail.”

Having signed a one-month loan deal at Tatnam, winger Mason Walsh came on as a 72nd-minute substitute for Gillespie.

Dolphins: Hutchings, Tallack, Lindsay, Walker, Whisken, Pettefer (Davis, 72), Burbidge, Devlin, Quigley (Roberts, 90), Brooks, Gillespie (Walsh, 72).