MANAGER Tom Killick blamed a "sloppy" lapse in concentration as Poole Town fell at the FA Trophy's first hurdle at league rivals Merthyr.
Gethin Jones crashed home the winner seven minutes from the end to seal a tight 1-0 victory for the Martyrs in a match where chances had been few and far between.
Luke Roberts went close for the Dolphins, flashing wide after good build-up play by on-loan Jamie White seven minutes before the interval.
Goalkeeper Nick Hutchings produced a fingertip save early in the second half to retain parity but the Martyrs landed the killer blow when Jones converted from a corner during the dying embers, sending down a cul de sac on their road to Wembley.
Killick told the Daily Echo: "It was quite an even game and we looked like we would come away with a replay but a sloppy moment where we lost concentration briefly at a corner cost us our place in the competition.
"It was frustrating because other than a free-kick where they hit the bar, they wasn't an awful lot in the game. I thought we had the better of it but it wasn't to be."
Dolphins: Hutchings, Tallack, Spetch, Walker, Whisken, Pettefer, Burbidge, Lindsay, White (Dickson, 69), Brooks (Holmes, 76), Roberts. Unused subs: Davis, Rees (g/k).
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