POOLE boss Tom Killick is backing his players to turn their poor form around, despite admitting they should have beaten bottom side Whitehawk on Saturday.

Dolphins raced into a two-goal lead during the opening period at the Enclosed Ground, thanks to goals from new signing Warren Bentley and Portsmouth loanee Jez Bedford.

But just when it looked like Killick’s side were going to bounce back with a win, the visitors surrendered their advantage in the second period to draw 2-2.

Connor Tighe scored from the penalty spot before Liam Gordon struck four minutes from time for the hosts.

The draw leaves Dolphins 16th in the National South table with just one point coming from their previous four league games.

But having ended a run of three straight defeats, Killick believed he saw some positive signs from his squad.

He told the Daily Echo: “We ended up drawing a game we should have won but the players are doing everything they can to turn around a disappointing run of results.

“I am not in any way critical of them. We just have to keep going.

“I am always critical of the players if they are not giving their all but they are really doing everything to try and improve results.

“We all have to stick together and have some solidarity.

“I am confident, if the players carry on playing as they did on Saturday, results will improve.

“I am really supportive of them in terms of what they are trying to do and hopefully we can carry on.”

Assessing the game as a whole, Killick said: “I thought we did really well in the first half.

“Warren scored on his debut and, considering he is probably not match fit, I thought he did very well for us and showed he can be a good asset going forward.

“Young Jez from Portsmouth played well, as did Ollie Harfield.

“It was a good team performance in the first half. Not only were we 2-0 up, we were controlling the game.

“Whitehawk hadn’t had any chances and we had numerous opportunities other than the ones we took.

“In the second half, credit to Whitehawk. They changed their shape and were much more of an attacking threat.

"I think where our results haven’t been good, we lost confidence in the second half and became a little bit panicked.”

Poole’s next test comes with a home game against Hemel Hempstead Town at Black Gold Stadium on Tuesday (7.45pm).

Hemel, who were beaten 2-1 at home against Truro City on Saturday, are currently 11th in the league table.

A win for Poole would be their first home victory of the campaign.

Dolphins: Hutchings, Cooper, Smeeton, Spetch, Whisken, Pettefer, Dickson (Baggie, 87), Devlin, Bentley (Balmer, 78), Bedford (Lee, 78), Harfield. Unused subs: Rees (g/k), Lindsay.