POOLE Town boss Tom Killick defended his team's disciplinary record and insisted yellow cards were handed out more readily in the modern game.

Dolphins trio Will Spetch, Michael Walker and Steve Devlin are all one booking away from a one-match ban, while Jamie Whisken is suspended for the home clash with St Neots a week tomorrow after picking up five cautions.

Spetch, Walker and Devlin will avoid sanctions if they do not receive further bookings before or on November 30, as it is not possible to get a one-game ban for a fifth booking after that date.

Speaking ahead of tomorrow's home clash with Cambridge City (3pm), Killick told the Daily Echo: "I don't think our discipline is any worse than a lot of other teams.

"It's just that at this stage of the season, defenders and your more competitive players are making lots of tackles and what constitutes a caution nowadays is a lot less significant than it used to be.

"There are probably an awful lot of players up and down the league that are either serving suspensions or getting close to them. It just goes with the territory.

"The players have to try and stay out of trouble until the end of November but it's not always possible."

Dolphins are still without Richard Gillespie and Jamie Gleeson as they prepare to take on 12th-placed City.

Killick added: "Cambridge are on quite a good run of form and beat Leamington away in their last league match.

"We must not be complacent because we are playing a mid-table team at home, as we know from experience that that could come back to bite us."

Dolphins: (from) Hutchings, Tallack, Lindsay, Spetch, Walker, Whisken, Pettefer, Burbidge, Devlin, Dickson, Brooks, Holmes, Roberts, Connell, Davis, Rees.

In the Sydenhams Wessex Premier, Poppies are away to Horndean but Hamworthy United's home clash with Blackfield & Langley has been postponed due to Blackfield's involvement in the FA Vase.

Verwood Town entertain Lymington Town in the second round of the Wessex League Cup while New Milton are also at home, with Cowes Sports their opposition.

Christchurch face an away tie with Amesbury while Ringwood Town make the journey to AFC Stoneham (all 3pm).