POOLE Town had to win ugly in order to beat fellow playoff hopefuls Gosport according to their manager Tom Killick.

Gosport came into the game occupying the final playoff spot, but two first-half goals from Poole proved the difference in a game low on quality chances.

Club captain Jamie Whisken headed home a corner to open scores, before fellow stalwart Will Spetch converted a penalty to put Poole into a comfortable lead heading into the break.

A Mark Childs own goal in the second half set up a nervy ending to the game, but Dolphins managed to see the win out and pick up a vital three points.

Killick told the Daily Echo: “I thought you could tell they’re a very good side.

“Typically, with our luck they seemed to have most of their players they had missing back as well, so they were stronger than perhaps they have been in recent weeks.

“It was a really gritty performance. It wasn’t necessarily a beautiful spectacle as a football match.

“They probably looked easier on the eye, but we just defended very well.

“We were very strong. When we did go forward, we looked a threat. It was a very good overall performance against a powerful opponent.”

Killick went on to praise his squad for showing resilience, explaining: “I’m quite critical of the players.

“I’m the first one to be quite harsh when they don't perform well, and I do feel that the last few games they have really stood up.

“(It) was the sort of win we’ve been sort of looking for.

“It is one you would describe as an ugly win. That's what we've almost been not able to do so much. We've been able to win games when we've been playing well, and when we haven't played well we drop points, but we weren't amazing yesterday.

“We managed to fight and show physicality and that’s got us the points.

Despite the victory Poole remain in 9th place in the Southern League Premier South, two points behind Weston-super-Mare in 5th.

Poole: Childs, Rose, Wright (Forbes, 81), Whisken, Seddon, Jackson, Carmichael, Moore, Dickson, Burbidge (Pardoe, 65), Spetch

Unused subs: Wickham, Butler (g/k), Mayo