JUBILANT Marvin Brooks hailed a perfect day for promotion-chasers Poole Town – despite narrowly missing out on a personal milestone.

Brooks came agonisingly close to his first career hat-trick in the 3-0 win over Chesham United that saw Tom Killick's side surge to the Southern Premier summit.

The influential midfielder put the hosts in control with a pair of headers from Steve Devlin corners and after Luke Roberts extended the lead early in the second half, Brooks saw a further header cleared off the line.

But ultimately, victory proved consolation enough for the Dolphins man, who was utilised on the left flank for much of the second period.

Brooks told the Daily Echo: "It was the perfect day for us. Chesham have been beating the big-hitters lately so we were expecting one of the hardest games of the season but it turned out to be easier than we thought.

“I never give him credit but when Devs puts deliveries in like that it makes it quite easy. When the keeper is not coming for crosses six yards out, you expect to score.

“I’ve never scored a hat-trick before and that was probably why I was a bit bitter when Tom put me out on the left!

“I eventually got my head on another one but I think the defender made me look a bit good because the header wasn’t the best."

Killick made two changes to his starting XI with Abdulai Baggie brought in for Ashan Holgate and Lewis Tallack replacing Lewis Lindsay at full-back.

It took Poole less than six minutes to seize the initiative. Devlin swung a corner towards the near post and Brooks rose well to head powerfully home off the underside of the bar.

Dolphins appeals for a penalty went unheeded after Luke Burbidge went to ground under a challenge from keeper Shane Gore, while Dave Pearce pulled wide with Chesham’s first sight of goal.

Midway through the half, the hosts doubled their lead and there was a sense of déjà vu about the effort.

Again Devlin sent in a near-post corner and Brooks jumped high and nodded into the net, this time glancing the ball the other side of Gore.

Burbidge fired across the face before a limp strike from Sam Youngs failed to trouble Nick Hutchings and Toby Little’s free-kick only found the wall.

Devlin blasted a deflected drive wide to close the half after his free-kick had been half-cleared.

Seven minutes into the second period, it was 3-0. Devlin hoisted in a free-kick from the halfway line and the inspired Brooks leapt and headed across goal, with Roberts well-placed to squeeze past Gore.

Chesham’s best chance followed shortly after, Ashley Smith’s right-wing cross glanced beyond the left post by Pearce.

The goalmouth action slowed in the final 30 minutes although Roberts's rising drive was beaten away by Gore, while Brooks's late header was frantically hacked away.

Dolphins: Hutchings, Tallack, Spetch, Walker, Whisken, Pettefer, Burbidge (Lee, 57), Devlin (Granger, 73), Roberts, Brooks, Baggie (Gleeson, 68). Unused subs: Holgate, Rees (g/k).