STEVE Devlin had a first-half penalty saved as Poole Town’s promotion hopes went up in smoke with a 1-0 play-off semi-final defeat to St Neots.

Lee Clarke scrambled home the decisive goal with 14 minutes to play in a largely subdued encounter at Tatnam in which Dolphins paid the price for not scoring in a madcap two-minute spell during the first half.

Cherries loanees Matt Butcher and Joe Quigley hit the woodwork in quick succession moments before Poole winger Luke Burbidge was upended by Saints keeper Paul Bastock in the penalty area.

But the 44-year-old veteran rolled back the years and saved Devlin’s effort low to his right and the stalemate continued until Clarke forced home from close range after a long throw had been flicked on at the near post. 

PICTURE GALLERY: Poole Town 0 St Neots Town 1

Poole boss Tom Killick was forced into a defensive reshuffle after right-back Lewis Tallack aggravated an ankle complaint. Lewis Lindsay switched sides with Keith Emmerson drafted in. 

Dolphins’ second change from Saturday’s heartbreaking defeat to Corby saw Butcher replace Tom Whelan in midfield.

Emmerson fired the first attempt of the evening straight at Bastock after five minutes and the hosts continued to make most of the early running.

A tidy exchange involving Devlin and Quigley teed up Burbidge to hammer over from distance before the match burst into life with 18 minutes on the clock.

Butcher drove forward and pelted the frame of the goal with Quigley’s follow up ricocheting off the bar and Bastock saved his second follow up a minute before the penalty stop.

Clarke went close for Saints after a moment of hesitation at the back but the hosts kept probing with Lindsay going close from consecutive corners.

Poole keeper Nick Hutchings did well to judge and hold Drew Roberts’s speculative half volley from distance, while clever movement saw Burbidge go close five minutes before the interval.

The tentative nature of proceedings continued in the second half with Clarke forcing a fine reaction save from Hutchings after 57 minutes in a rare effort on goal.

Poole substitute Mason Walsh almost had an immediate impact but his close-range effort was bravely charged down by visiting skipper Ryan Frater.

Chances were still few and far and between and the rugged Saints seized the initiative through Clarke's effort before comfortably stifling the game.

Walsh’s close-range shot the only effort of note late on as the match petered out and Poole's hopes of Conference South football were extinguished.

Dolphins: Hutchings, Lindsay, Spetch, Emmerson, Whisken, Pettefer, Burbidge, Devlin, Quigley (Roberts, 64), Butcher (Whelan, 84), Gilkes (Walsh, 64). Unused subs: Lowes, Davis. 

Booked: Quigley.

Saints: Bastock, Longden, Bickerstaff (Harty, h-t), Mitchell-King (Spring, h-t), Frater, Ward, Ferrari (Hobbs, 67), Tann, Clarke, D Roberts, Hilliard. Unused subs: Veira,  Greygoose (g/k).

Referee: Daniel Leach (Witney, Oxfordshire).

Attendance: 841.