ASSISTANT-manager James Wood insisted boss Tom Killick’s ban would not derail Poole Town’s promotion bid and then praised his players for proving it.

Wood presided over Dolphins’ resolute 2-0 victory at Dunstable as Killick began a six-match stadium ban for improper conduct.

Luke Burbidge was the hero of the hour with two identical first-half strikes, the first a 25-yard thunderbolt having cut in from the right with only 12 minutes on the clock.

The wily winger then repeated his trick from the edge of the box just past the half-hour mark as stubborn Poole ground out a crucial victory in their Southern League title quest.

And while Wood admits Killick’s absence from the dressing room “is not ideal”, his right-hand man is adamant the squad has what it takes to overcome a tumultuous time at Tatnam.

Wood told the Daily Echo: “Tom is the focal point of everything we do but to be honest it is more of a problem for everyone else than it is for us as a group. We are lucky to have a self-motivated squad of players who tend to manage themselves pretty well. From our point of view, it isn’t a massive issue.

“Naturally, we would have preferred to have had Tom in the dugout but everyone knew what was expected and what had to be done and carried it out to the letter.

“Tom has instilled a real will to win over a long period of time so it did not affect us mentally. That trait has been evident throughout the season and will continue to be right to the end.”

Wood also lauded the manner in which Poole had adjusted to a more direct style to suit Dunstable’s difficult playing surface.

“We are not a one-dimensional team and can adapt to different situations,” he added.

“It was a nice set-up but the pitch was small and had bobbles. It was not conducive to us playing as we normally would.

“Before the game, we spoke about how we had to be a bit more direct and do what was necessary to win the game.

“They were two great goals from Burbs and we have come to expect that from him now. The bright start really settled us down. It wasn’t easy on the eye but it was effective and if we have to win ugly at times then we will. We are at that stage of the season where the result is all that matters.

“The application and attitude of the players was vital to us picking up three points and it ticked off the list another tricky away fixture.”

Dolphins: Hutchings, Tallack, Lindsay, Walker, Whisken, Pettefer (Walsh, 20), Burbidge, Devlin, Quigley (Roberts, 75), Brooks, Gillespie (Davis, 65). Unused subs: Spetch, Yates (g/k).