BOSS Tom Killick expressed his delight after Poole Town had overcome a couple of mishaps to see off Southern League South high-fliers Taunton Town.

Marvin Brooks bagged the only goal of the game midway through the first half at Black Gold Stadium as victory saw Dolphins climb to seventh.

However, their preparations had been adversely affected when Luke Roberts declared himself unfit at the 11th hour after dislocating his big toe in an accident at the school where he works.

And Poole were forced to play the final 30 minutes without the services of captain and linchpin defender Jamie Whisken after he had been controversially sent off.

Whisken received his marching orders just five minutes after Taunton had been reduced to 10 men following the dismissal of defender Pierce Mitchell for a second yellow card.

Killick told the Daily Echo: “It was a good win and a good performance. We had a bit of a blow on the eve of the game because Luke, who is a PE teacher, dislocated his big toe when one of his pupils trod on his foot.

“It is the sort of thing you have to put up with in non-league football. We were already without Will Spetch and Richard Gillespie and then, suddenly, we lost Luke as well.

“We were up against it a bit in terms of personnel so against that background and against a very good side, I thought it was a good performance and we probably could have won by more.”

Whisken is expected to miss Poole’s trip to Kings Langley on November 3 but will be available for Tuesday’s trip to Gosport and Saturday’s visit to Haringey Borough in the FA Cup.

Discussing his red card, Killick said: “I think Taunton were a little aggrieved with the second yellow for their lad. Some referees might have let him off, it was slightly harsh but nothing ridiculous.

“Jamie’s second yellow was a classic case of he had just sent off one of their players. It was an unbelievably innocuous aerial challenge where he won the ball.

“I didn’t even think it was a foul but a couple of their lads were very vociferous in calling for one. Once the referee had given it, they surrounded him.

“You fear the referee is going to be influenced and he decided to send him off.

“But it was part of the reason it was quite pleasing because we were then faced with our main defender off the pitch and we still saw out the game.”

Killick hopes Roberts will be back for the FA Cup tie but admits the league game against Gosport may come too soon for the frontman.

“We are hoping it is only going to be short term,” said Killick. “We are hoping it settles down quite quickly but it was too sore for him to play against Taunton.

“I think Tuesday might be too soon but I would be very disappointed if it affected him for Saturday, even if we have to give him some painkillers. We need to get him out there in the FA Cup so, hopefully, it will be okay by then.”

Dolphins: Cairney, Alawode-Williams, Smeeton, Leslie-Smith, Whisken, Moore, Griffin (Grange, 88), Devlin (House, 66), Pettefer, Brooks, Bedford. Unused subs: O’Connor, Gilot, Balmer.