Killick in bullish mood as Dolphins maintain pole position (From Bournemouth Echo)

Killick in bullish mood as Dolphins maintain pole position

7:00am Monday 24th September 2012 in Non league football By Andy Mitchell

POOLE Town boss Tom Killick believes his squad is looking “ominously strong” and is backing his boys to lift the title after their latest victory at Tatnam .

Dolphins fought back with two quick-fire goals in the second half against Bridgwater Town, extending to three points their lead at the top of the embryonic Southern League South & West standings.

And with Killick adding two new strikers to his squad in the past week, Sam Wilson from Eastleigh and Elliott Blair on work experience from Aldershot Town, the Tatnam chief believes his charges can remain top dogs throughout the campaign.

Killick told the Daily Echo: “I’m happy with what we have now. I always wanted to have four strikers at my disposal. Whether you start with two up front or one, like we are at the moment, you want four.

“We’re always trying to improve and Dean Holdsworth (Aldershot manager) recommended Elliott to me. He will play for the reserves on Wednesday and we are hopeful he can add to our options.”

Asked whether he felt his side would maintain their position at the top, Killick added: “Yes I do. We wanted to try and get into top spot early this year and stay there. We didn’t want to be playing catch up so we are pleased.

“We are in a good position and our squad is looking ominously strong now.”

Killick’s men were slow out of the blocks and conceded a sixth-minute opener when Michael Walker was judged to have handled in the penalty area with Craig Veal netting the spot kick for the visitors.

Bridgwater continued to probe but failed to find a killer second before the break and Dolphins regrouped, nudging themselves in front within 11 minutes of the restart.

Adam Kelly plundered his first goal for the club after being slipped through by Simon Baines to level before Will Spetch’s tenacity set up the second, driving through the heart of Bridgwater’s backline before Marvin Brooks crossed for Karim Lamalli to finish from close range.

Killick said: “We were terrible in the first half but we settled after half-time and the players reacted really well.

“My man of the match by a long way was Will Spetch. He just gets better with every game and, if there is a better young centre-half in this league, then I haven’t seen him. It was one of the performances of the season from him.”

Meanwhile, Killick confirmed striker Lee Chudy had joined former club Hamworthy United on dual registration.

Dolphins: Hutchings, Baines, Spetch, Emmerson, Walker, Kelly, Burbidge (Wilson 60), Devlin, S Brown (Lamalli 52), Preston, Brooks. Unused subs: Blair, Richardson, O’Donnell.