DERBY day belonged to Poole Town after their impressive second-half display had proved enough to overcome spirited Hamworthy United in the FA Cup showdown at the County Ground.

Steve Devlin announced his return to the Dolphins team with a rasping strike and further goals from Marvin Brooks, Dan Cann and Carl Preston booked Poole’s place in the third qualifying round.

Poole were made to battle as Sam Lanahan and captain Nick Tayler ensured the Hammers went in level at the break, but the hosts were overpowered by a dominant performance from their Southern Premier neighbours after the interval.

“The first half wasn’t what we would have liked with regards to the goals we conceded,” Poole boss Tom Killick told the Daily Echo.

“In the second half, we were a bit more resilient. We came out much more purposeful and I thought we defended a lot better.”

After a frantic opening in which Hamworthy pegged back Killick’s men on two occasions, the Dolphins showed their class three minutes after half-time when Cann gathered a flick from Richard Gillespie before slotting past Andy Knights in the Hammers goal.

A Greg Horlock header clipped the crossbar for Hamworthy in response, but Gillespie soon played a part in Poole’s fourth as he set Jonathan Davies away down the right flank to deliver a pinpoint cross for Preston to calmly finish.

Killick added: “Hamworthy were very good. Their front two were lively and caused us problems. They put in a tremendous effort from start to finish and made it difficult for us.

“Winning games of football breeds confidence. We played against a lower league team and from the players’ point of view, a loss here could have really damaged morale. We were pleased to escape from that scenario and move on.

“Our ambition is still to get into the first round proper – that is where all the money and the dreams are made – but we are still two games off. The Conference sides come in now so it will be tough.”

Poole, who earned £4,500 in prize money, will discover their opponents in tomorrow’s draw.

Meanwhile, after seeing his Wessex League side knocked out, Hammers boss Simon Browne was full of praise for his players.

He told the Daily Echo: “I am very proud. We weren’t disgraced in any shape or form and I was extremely happy with the way we pegged them back twice.

“I think with the players we have here, we can achieve things in the league and that is what we will be concentrating on now, as well as the FA Vase.”

Hammers: Knights, Penny, Biles, Horlock, Tayler, Stacey (Martin, 75), Lanahan, Hester, Pekun, Allen (Saunders, 87), Claremont (Bassiriki, 87). Unused subs: Ayling, Chudy, Shear.

Dolphins: Hutchings, Brooks, Spetch, Cummings, Whisken, Pettefer, Davies (Elliott, 68), Devlin (Cane, 75), Gillespie (Byerley, 73), Preston, Cann. Unused subs: Oliver, Dibba, Rowe, Thomas (g/k).