WILL Spetch is not only one of the finest defenders in the Southern League – but also one of the best strikers, at least according to his manager Tom Killick.

It’s hardly a surprising statement from a manager that will more than happily chuck Poole’s record appearance holder up-top when times are tough.

With Dolphins currently undergoing a crisis in the striking department after injuries ruled out Tony Lee and Will Fletcher, Killick has once again turned to Spetch for goals – with the stalwart responding with four headers in two games against Dorchester and Wimborne.

It is not the first time Spetch has shown prowess as a make-shift striker – Killick turned to the Portsmouth-born defender during the 2019-20 season when lacking a recognised striker, with Spetch responding with four goals in five games prior to the league shutdown due to COVID.

His hat-trick of headers against Wimborne on New Year’s Day might have had the hint of a centre-half about them, but Killick was quick to laud praise on one of his longest serving players, saying: “Thing is, people will look at the headers, but he is a threat – he’s a threat in other areas.

“He nearly had a couple of goals, he’s gone clean through and the lad’s brought him down – I thought that was possibly a red card, because he was in on goal and he’s knocked it past him.

“He’s a threat at set-pieces, in the air he’s gonna be very powerful – everyone knows that.

“But he’s a much better footballer than people give him credit for.

“That’s why I’ve got absolutely no hesitation in playing him that high up the pitch, because he’s got real quality, he’s got a good touch, he sees things, he holds the ball for us.

“It’s credit to him that he’s one of the best centre halves in this league,” continued Killick. but I do believe when he plays as a striker he is one of the biggest threats in the league too.”

After coming through the ranks at Tatnam, initially as a left-back, Spetch quickly turned the heads of Football League scouts – including Cherries.

Spetch went on to trial twice with Cherries and boyhood club Portsmouth, as well as Huddersfield and Port Vale – but ultimately did not earn a pro deal.

He would leave Poole briefly in 2014, with the club securing a reported fee of £6,000 when he left for full time Sutton – only for Poole’s prodigal son to return home on a free transfer after his spell at the London club was strewn with injuries.

The 30-year-old is held in such high regard by Killick that Poole initially started the season without a back-up goalkeeper – because his manager trusted him to put in a shift between the sticks if needed.

Back in July, Killick said: “Will is not a bad goalkeeper – he can always step in goal for us if needed.

"In fact, he’d play anywhere – apart from left-back, which is ironic because that’s where he started out!”