BOSS Tom Killick felt that his side’s eventual 3-0 defeat to Weston-super-Mare stemmed from their first-half performance – despite Poole shipping three second-half goals as they fell to a third successive defeat at home.

In a flat first-half where neither side truly grasped control of the game, Poole came closest through two Tony Lee free-kicks that required the intervention of Weston goalkeeper Max Harris.

The second half continued in much the same vein, with both teams struggling to create much of note. Poole again were the cause of their own downfall when a poor Jack Dickson backpass caused goalkeeper Tommy Scott to foul a Weston striker and give away a penalty, which was duly converted by Dayle Grubb.

After gifting their guests the lead, Dolphins’ heads dropped, allowing Weston to snatch two further goals in 10 minutes via Jordan Bastin and Scott Laird.

Poole could have snatched a late consolation, but Lee's stoppage-time penalty was saved by the legs of Harris.

Speaking to the Daily Echo, Killick stated: "I actually thought the first half was where the damage was done, because we had a bit of control over the game.

"I wouldn’t say Weston were below par, but I just felt that they were there for the taking a little bit, and we just played within ourselves, thinking that everything would just fall into place.

“I think when an opportunity arises to do some damage, inflict a few blows on a team, you have to do it, because I always felt that they would probably improve.

“In the second half they were better. We were very much in the game, we make one mistake."

Dickson was a second-half sub brought on to replace Cherries loanee Brooklyn Genesini, with Killick admitting it might not have been the right call, with Dickson lacking match fitness after a bout of COVID.

“I’ve taken a bit of a gamble there and taken Brooklyn off and put Jack on,” continued Killick.

“It would appear that hasn’t helped us. Between him and Tommy (Scott) there’s a mistake.

“As soon as the incident happens, you fear there’s going to be something erratic happening, and that’s what happened. I just feel, almost in a strange way, that the damage was done in the first half.

“We had a bit of control – not lots, yet we really didn’t lay a glove on them. We allowed them to grow into the game and have a fairly comfortable time, and then in the second half they were better.”

Poole have no game this weekend, with their next action away at Yate Town on November 16.

Dolphins: Scott, Genesini (Dickson, 55), Rose, Spetch, Jackson, Carmichael, Moore, Holmes (Wickham, 85), Burbidge, Davey (Fletcher, 72), Lee.

Unused subs: Bartlett, Chipangura.

  • Winger Jez Bedford, who made more than 100 appearances for Poole, has left the club to join neighbours Wimborne Town.