POOLE Town kept their Southern League promotion push on track with a 2-1 victory at Bideford last night – despite getting lost en route to North Devon.

Goals from Luke Burbidge and Michael Walker earned the Dolphins a fourth away win of the season as Bideford’s wait for a first home triumph in the Premier Division continued.

Poole had endured an arduous journey to Devon with roadworks forcing them to seek an alternative route to Bideford’s Sports Ground headquarters.

Dolphins boss Tom Killick told the Daily Echo: “It was a solid performance against a determined Bideford side. We missed some good chances which again made the score closer than it should have been.

“But it was an excellent away win taking into account a combination of roadworks and getting lost meant we spent almost eight hours on the coach there and back!”

Burbidge finished coolly to open the scoring in the 36th minute after fastening on to a through ball with Bideford claiming he had handled in the lead up.

The hosts had a Matt Hockley effort ruled out for a foul on Poole goalkeeper Nick Hutchings before giant defender Walker doubled their lead late on.

Walker sneaked in at the far post to head home his first goal of the campaign following a corner from Steve Devlin eight minutes from time.

Although Ed Palmer halved the deficit with a shot from the edge of the box three minutes from time, Poole held on and climbed to fourth in the table.

Dolphins: Hutchings, Tallack, Whisken, Walker, Spetch, Pettefer, Brooks (Holmes, 71), Devlin, Burbidge (Dickson, 84), Connell (Moore, 64), Roberts.

  • Poole will travel to Ryman League Division One South outfit Hastings United in the third qualifying round of the FA Cup on October 10. The Sussex club registered a 3-2 win over Herne Bay in their second qualifying round reply last night.