BOSS Tom Killick admitted Poole Town’s start in National South had exceeded his expectations but said they would have to keep improving if they were to build on it.

The Southern Premier League champions continued to take the step up in their stride by recording a convincing 4-2 victory at Hemel Hempstead Town on Saturday.

Since suffering a chastening 4-0 defeat at Ebbsfleet on the opening day, Poole have chalked up four wins and a draw and are currently fourth in the table after six games.

Their credentials will be tested when they host fifth-placed Bath City – one of the more established clubs at step two – at Tatnam today (3pm).

Killick told the Daily Echo: “I always hoped we would end up being competitive but I felt it might be difficult for us at the start to come to terms with it all. From that point of view, it has definitely exceeded my expectations.

“But I am under no illusions and I know there will be some difficult days for us to come at times. Although it is a really positive start, we know it is a strong league and know we are still going to have to improve if we are going to hold our own.”

A ruthless display of finishing earned Poole a fourth win in five after the Tudors had made a promising start at their Vauxhall Road headquarters.

And after Scott Nielson, Johnny McNamara and Sam Corcoran had all spurned presentable chances, substitute James Granger broke the deadlock with a stunning 25-yarder after 36 minutes.

Steve Devlin’s effort from inside his own half was tipped on to the crossbar by Jonathan Henly before Luke Burbidge pounced on a poor clearance to make it 2-0 on the stroke of half-time.

Luke Roberts seized on a mistake by Harly Wise to make it 3-0 midway through the second half before the hosts were reduced to 10 men when Arnaud Mendy picked up a second yellow card.

Ryan Case’s header seven minutes from time finally killed off Hemel, although two goals in the space of a minute from Corcoran and Jake Robinson reduced the deficit.

Killick added: “I was really pleased. We had some difficult times at Hemel in the Southern Premier League and I knew they had some strong players. So to end up in a position where we were 4-0 up was somewhat above my expectations.

“It was another Herculean effort by the players. We are struggling for numbers anyway and we only had two fit outfield subs.

“Then, we lost Jamie Gleeson early on so that left us with one fit outfield sub and that was Ollie Davis, who is 18 and making his way at this level. In those circumstances, to do what we did, I thought was brilliant.”

Bath City, who knocked Poole out of the FA Cup two years ago, head to Tatnam on the back of four successive wins, the latest of which was a 2-1 home triumph over East Thurrock on Saturday.

Dolphins: Hutchings, Case, Lindsay, Walker, Spetch, Pettefer, Burbidge, Devlin, Roberts (Davis, 78), Gleeson (Granger, 20), Wort. Unused subs: Baggie, Rees (g/k).