CARL Pettefer reckons Poole Town deserve more credit for their stingy streak at home despite finally having their imperious defensive record breached.

The Dolphins had not conceded a league goal at Tatnam since March, a run that stretched back some seven matches prior to Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Eastbourne Borough.

In a largely uneventful clash, Poole took the lead after 32 minutes when a long throw was flicked on by Cherries loanee Sam Surridge for Luke Roberts to net from an acute angle.

But the joy was short lived as the hosts uncharacteristically failed to clear and Elliott Romain nodded Borough level five minutes before half-time.

Eastbourne looked the likelier team to score after the break with Romain going close from a Gavin McCallum cross, while Nathaniel Pinney’s lob forced keeper Nick Hutchings to tip over the crossbar.

It marked a useful point for promoted Poole, who remain among the early frontrunners in National South, and Pettefer argued their start was a testament to the solid shape drilled into them by boss Tom Killick and right-hand man Callum Brooks.

Pettefer told the Daily Echo: “It has a lot to do with the team spirit and knowing we are not always a free-scoring side.

“We have our good days going forward but usually, we tend to win 1-0 or 2-0 which emphasises the importance of clean sheets for us.

“The defenders have played an important part but it runs through the whole team, people dropping back, matching their opponents physically and blocking any service into their front men.

“People will always criticise something or other but our record speaks for itself.

“It has worked pretty well for us for a number of years now, Tommy has belief in the way we play and as players, we all share in that. The run is a testament to the manager and his staff.

“Callum has made a difference since he came in, not just to the defensive side but overall. He comes up with specific ideas in training and we have benefited from that in terms of our organisation.”

The clash saw Pettefer return from a grade one hamstring injury but was he withdrawn eight minutes into the second half.

“It was not 100 per cent. I could feel it in the first minute when I sprinted but managed to get through the half,” he added.

“Anything above 80 per cent pace and that sensation was there but to my knowledge, I haven’t made it any worse.

“I should be alright for Tuesday at Truro. You need about two weeks and I came back after 12 days and felt okay, I just came off as a precaution.”

Dolphins: Hutchings, Lindsay, Spetch, Walker, Whisken, Pettefer (Gleeson, 54), Burbidge, Devlin, Surridge (Wort, 73), Granger (Baggie, 81), Roberts. Unused subs: Case, Rees (g/k).