BOSS Tom Killick admitted Poole Town were “below par” as they fell to a difficult 4-0 defeat at Southern League South play-off rivals Harrow Borough.

Two goals each for Frank Keita and Ant O’Connor ensured sixth-place Harrow closed to three points the gap on Dolphins, as the race for the top five took another dramatic twist.

Killick told the Daily Echo: “I think it was the classic combination of we were below the level we expect and, to their credit, they played very well and looked a very good side on the day.

“When they played well and we were below par, you ended up with that scoreline.”

Dolphins made one change due to the suspension of Jake Smeeton, with stalwart Will Spetch returning to the side.

But the visitors found themselves a goal behind after 26 minutes when Keita capitalised on Luke Cairney’s weak headed clearance to lift the ball over the stranded keeper and into an empty net.

Killick attempted to rally his troops at-half time but with Poole chasing the game, the hosts only had to hit Dolphins on the counter in order to kill off the contest.

O’Connor grabbed a second for Harrow shortly after the break before Keita effectively ended the game in the 56th minute with his second of the afternoon.

And on 67 minutes, O’Connor also ended up with a brace when he rounded off another counter to notch his team’s fourth.

“The first half was very even,” said Killick. “We went a goal behind to a very well-taken goal. He probably scored from about 35 yards out into an empty net.

“We had our opportunities. I felt we were competitive in the first half. Then in the second, we obviously talked about trying to get back into the game.

“But we did exactly the opposite by conceding the second goal.

“Then you’re away from home trying to retrieve a two-goal deficit, so you have to be very gung-ho in your approach.

“That can often lead to scorelines like that. The other option had been to shut up shop and go for damage limitation but at this stage of the season we could not approach any game like that.

“We felt we had to go after the game and we got picked off towards the end.”

With no midweek fixture for Dolphins, Harrow could draw level on points should they beat Walton Casuals at home on Tuesday.

On the race for the play-offs, Killick said: “It’s very much still in the balance – it’s a very interesting one.

“Obviously, the result damages us in all aspects in terms of keeping fifth spot but also in catching up with those above us.

“That final play-off spot seems to be very sought after, as you would expect.

“Looking at the league table, there are probably quite a few teams that feel they still have a chance of getting there and we’re one of them.

“However, we’ve got to get back to how we were playing before Saturday. If we can do that, I reckon we have more than a good chance of achieving that.”

Dolphins: Cairney, Dickson, Leslie-Smith (Grange, 71), Spetch, Whisken, House, Griffin, Moore, Scrimshaw (Boote, 58), Brooks, Bedford. Unused subs: Constable, Hubbard, O'Connor (g/k).