TOM Killick attributed Poole’s consummate away performance at Hampton & Richmond to his players’ willingness to buy into a hard running and high pressing game-plan.

Poole harried their high-flying hosts out of their stride, with Steve Devlin’s penalty and a goal from Cherries loan star Sam Surridge earning them a 2-0 win.

Killick had been wary of the threat posed by a side which had scored 29 goals in 12 league games prior to Saturday and even admitted reports he’d received led to him wanting to “turn the bus around” before his side’s win.

“We know they’re renowned as being one of the most incisive, attacking sides in the league,” Killick told the Daily Echo.

“We wanted to make sure they didn’t enjoy the game too much. We didn’t want to allow them any time to play.

“If you are going to do that it has to start from the front. The whole team must buy into it. There has to be a real work ethic, physicality and commitment to the process and we had that throughout the side.”

Poole could have led as early as the ninth minute at the Beveree Stadium. Marvin Brooks and the outstanding Devlin combined to send Luke Roberts in on goal. The attacker rounded keeper Aaron Howe but was prevented from getting his shot away by covering right-back Michael Kamara.

Luke Burbidge then latched on to Carl Pettefer’s pass to draw a stop from Howe before Dolphins keeper Nick Hutchings was called on to save from Jamal Lowe. And having taken the wind from their opponents’ sails, Dolphins came close to edging in front when Brooks headed Burbidge’s left-wing delivery beyond the far post.

But with their first real attack after the restart, Poole struck gold. Brooks squared for Burbidge, whose subsequent shot deflected up and back out of the box. Devlin was first to react, swooping onto possession and bursting into the area, where he had his heels clipped by Kamara.

Devlin stroked the resultant penalty into the bottom corner.

Dolphins battened down the hatches to protect their lead, with Will Spetch and skipper Jamie Whicken both magnificent at the heart of an accomplished back four.

Surridge’s introduction in place of Richard Gillespie gave Poole renewed attacking impetus, with the substitute quickly testing Howe with a low 20-yard strike.

And when Burbidge’s 72nd-minute cross-field ball found Surridge, the striker resisted the attentions of Howe and Louis John to deliver a composed finish and effectively wrap up a victory Killick admitted ranked as one of his team’s best this season.

The manager also reserved praised for Cherries loanee Surridge, whose goal was his second in consecutive games.

“When he came on, he looked confident and sure of himself,” said Killick. “He seems a really focused lad, who is determined to make a career for himself.”