ASSISTANT manager James Wood admitted a pair of clangers from keeper Nick Hutchings had proved decisive but branded "unacceptable" Poole Town's display in a shock 2-1 defeat to Bideford.

Hutchings spilled a routine through ball for Billy Tucker to tap home the opener at Tatnam and then scooped Craig Veal's tame header into his own net eight minutes later.

Dolphins penned back the Devon outfit for the remainder of the game with Richard Gillespie twice pelting the post before half-time, while Cherries loanee Joe Quigley had a goal ruled out for an offside call Wood labelled "incredibly tight".

The home side's hopes of salvaging a result were dealt a further blow when Charlie Davis rashly kicked out at Richard Groves and gave Brighton-based referee Graham Kane no option but to brandish a red card with 20 minutes to play.

Substitute Luke Roberts scored from Michael Walker's downward header but it was too late to prevent Poole's second home league defeat of the season.

Wood told the Daily Echo: "It was very uncharacteristic from Hutch. I don't think he has made two mistakes all season, let alone two in one game. Players are only human and make mistakes, we have to accept that.

"They did cost us and gave us a mountain to climb but on the whole we were very flat and the performance levels were unacceptable across the board.

"We talked at length in the dressing room afterwards and while there were some very harsh and truthful words, that will stay between us as a group.

"There was no pointing of fingers, moaning or feeling sorry for ourselves, though. We have to take it on the chin and get on with it. That approach has served us well for six successful seasons and one we will continue with."

The result allowed title rivals Corby Town to take over at the Southern League summit with a one-point lead but Poole still have three games in hand.

Wood added: "Now is a time for calm heads. I believe we are in this position because we are the best team in the league and things don't change dramatically overnight.

"We were off the pace but could still have won the game 5-3 on another day. The hard work of the players put us in the position where we could afford to drop a few points. It is not the route we want to take but we must not get too carried away with one off day."

On Davies's dismissal, Wood said: "I am not going to slate Charlie, he knows what he did was wrong. It didn't help matters and he was spoken to accordingly."

Dolphins: Hutchings, Tallack (Roberts, 30), Lindsay, Walker, Whisken, Davis, Burbidge, Devlin, Gillespie, Quigley, Walsh (Spetch, 60). Unused subs: Lowes, Pettefer, Yates (g/k).