DISTRAUGHT Tom Killick admitted the full extent of Poole Town’s pain would only be realised after tomorrow’s FA Cup first-round draw.

Dolphins had been 14 minutes away from reaching the main competition for the first time in 35 years.

Steve Devlin’s first-half penalty at Isthmian Premier Haringey Borough had put Poole in the box seat to set up a glamour tie.

But goals from Jorge Djassi Sambu and Joel Nouble meant Killick’s men were beaten 2-1 and fell at the fourth qualifying round stage for the third time in six seasons.

He told the Daily Echo: “There have been quite a number of painful defeats in my time but this one was right up there in ranking with the best of them.

“It was painful in that we have missed out on the opportunity of a huge financial windfall from the club’s perspective.

“From the players’ perspective there was the kudos of getting into the first round proper. That was bad enough. Now we wait to see how much salt gets rubbed in the wound on Monday night.

“It’s a big enough disappointment now but I suppose the full significance of it will only really be realised then.

“From Haringey’s point of view they would love a big tie but it’s painful enough without that. I’m hoping they get the equivalent of Barrow away or something like that.”

Killick, who was without Jamie Whisken and Marvin Brooks through suspension, saw his plans rocked after being forced to replace Luke Roberts with Richard Gillespie after just 20 minutes at Coles Park.

Experienced hitman Gillespie was then fouled in the box, allowing stand-in skipper Devlin to slot home the opener from 12 yards. But having been overhauled in the second half, Killick admitted his side had been shaken by losing key personnel.

Asked whether he felt Dolphins deserved a replay, the boss replied: “No, not really. We were in front for quite a long time but I felt in the second half in particular we didn’t really do well enough.

“The players gave their all – and I don’t want to make excuses – but it really did affect us being without Jamie Whisken and Marvin Brooks.

“We started Luke Roberts but he had had a toe injury. He got it injected on Thursday night.

“Those injections normally do enable you to play but it was just too uncomfortable for him.

“We sort of hoped as he got going and adrenaline kicked in he might be okay. We were really keen to have Luke out there, we took a bit of gamble but he wasn’t able to play.

“I’m very sad for the players and supporters. The supporters travelled in numbers and everyone was just desperate to get it done but it wasn’t to be.”

Defeat also meant the Dorset club missed out on a whopping £25,000 in prize money. Poole host Frome Town in the first qualifying round of the FA Trophy on Saturday.

Dolphins: Cairney, Alawode-Williams, Smeeton, Spetch, Leslie-Smith, Moore, Griffin, Devlin (Dickson, 78), Bedford (Davis, 57), Pettefer, Roberts (Gillespie, 20). Unused subs: O’Connor, Grange, Gilot, Hubbard.