BOSS Tom Killick believes Poole Town were on the wrong end of a contentious penalty decision as they slipped to an ill-deserved 1-0 defeat at the hands of Hendon.

Killick is convinced the Dolphins should have been awarded a second-half spot-kick after Will Spetch’s header had apparently been handled on the line.

He had no complaints with the penalty which ultimately settled the contest in Hendon’s favour, with Josh Leslie-Smith’s foul leading to Ricardo German netting from the spot in the ninth minute at Silver Jubilee Park.

Killick told the Daily Echo: “We started a bit sluggishly in the first 20 minutes. They were on top and got the penalty but, after that, it was one-way traffic.

“We had numerous opportunities and what we felt was a very clear penalty. There was only one team in it but we just weren’t able to get the equaliser.

“I could see why the referee gave the penalty to them. It was one perhaps a lot of refs would have given.

“There was a coming-together in the box and their player felt contact. He went down and most refs these days would give a penalty for that. You almost have to take it on the chin.

“We were quite upset about the one that we didn’t get. It was handball on the line and was one of the clearest penalties you will ever see but there you go.

“It prevented a certain goal and would have been a sending off. There were all sorts of consequences of him not giving it.”

To compound their woes, Poole lost to injury three players, with Killick fearing Jake Smeeton could be set for an extended spell on the sidelines.

Smeeton, on as a 20th-minute replacement for Steve Devlin, had to be helped off having taken a heavy fall on Hendon’s 3G playing surface.

Killick added: “He has either dislocated his shoulder or damaged his collarbone. It looks like quite a serious injury.

“The injuries we are getting at the moment seem to be relatively serious ones so, hopefully, the news might be better than we are fearing.

“It was fairly innocuous. I am not saying it was a contributory factor, but there isn’t much give when you fall on a 3G pitch. No blame could be attributed to anyone though.”

Killick was impressed with teenage striker Korrey Henry who was handed his debut having arrived on a month’s loan from Yeovil at the end of last week.

“He was very good,” said Killick. “He was a real focal point for our attack, very powerful and gave defenders problems all game.

“The only thing he might be disappointed with is that he didn’t score. He had one chance in particular he might be a little disappointed with but it was an excellent debut and I think he will do us a lot of good while he is with us.”

Dolphins: Cairney, Moore, Leslie-Smith, Spetch, Whisken, Pettefer, Griffin (Bedford, 50), Devlin (Smeeton, 20, Grange 75), Clarke, Henry, Roberts. Unused subs: Grange, Balmer, Hutchings (g/k).