BOSS Tom Killick lavished praise on new discovery Tom Whelan as Poole Town kept on track their Southern League title tilt with a stirring fightback at Chesham.

Dolphins kept pace with relentless pacesetters Corby despite shipping a seventh-minute opener at the Meadow as Steve Devlin's pair of eye-catching free-kicks sandwiched Richard Gillespie's strike in a 3-1 triumph.

Coupled with Steelmen's 1-0 win at Weymouth, the result kept Dolphins within a point of their championship rivals with one game in hand and a significantly better goal difference.

Poole travel to Weymouth on Tuesday knowing a draw would be good enough to reclaim top spot ahead of their decisive final-day showdown at home to Corby on Saturday.

But despite Devlin's heroics, it was hot prospect Whelan, a recent recruit from Carl Poore's Verwood Town, who had Killick purring at full-time.

Dave Pearce fired the hosts ahead early on but the pendulum swung when United defender George Fenton sent Gillespie sprawling while trying to latch on to Whelan's pass.

Devlin fired the subsequent free-kick into the roof of the net before Gillespie put Poole in front from Whelan's cross on the stroke of half-time.

Set-piece specialist Devlin then wrapped up the result in the second half with a free-kick from the right wing which swerved beyond keeper Shane Gore.

Killick told the Daily Echo: "We are incredibly pleased with Tom. He started Tuesday's game against Banbury and really stood out so we felt he deserved his chance at Chesham.

"Perhaps that raised a few eyebrows but he replicated that performance against a very competent side and caused a lot of problems.

"He is only 19 and has fitted in seamlessly so far. He warranted his place and made a significant contribution."

On the match, Killick added: "Gilly got the wrong side of the defender and was clean through on goal. Their defender just had a desperate lunge at him so it was an inevitable red card.

"Often in those situations, you don't get the full benefit of the goalscoring opportunity but Devs's strike was hit with such huge venom. He belted it into the top corner and that was a big moment.

"It put us in a strong position and there was only going to be one winner from there.

"I was surprised to see the second free-kick go in but to be fair to their keeper, he made four or five very good saves. He was probably their best player."

Dolphins: Hutchings, Tallack, Spetch, Butcher, Whisken, Pettefer, Burbidge, Devlin, Whelan (Roberts, 85), Gillespie (Quigley, 71), Gilkes (Walsh, 80). Unused subs: Lindsay, Lowes.

  • TOP scorer Mark Gamble struck with a minute to play as Wimborne Town battled to a 1-0 victory at Wantage.

Magpies sit 13th in Southern South & West and could still climb a further place dependent on the outcome of their final game at home to Didcot Town next Saturday.