PROMOTER Danny Ford gave his backing to young reserve Nathan Ablitt and insisted: “We will give him all the encouragement he needs.”

The 18-year-old endured a difficult night’s work, failing to score a point in the Dorset club’s 50-40 victory over Redcar on Friday.

Ablitt was brought in at reserve by the Poole promotion this season, Ford describing him as a “long-term project” having announced his signing back in January.

And the Pirates chief insisted the former British youth champion would be given time to adjust to racing in the second tier.

He told the club website: “Nathan is still finding his feet and we are giving him all the time he needs to adjust to the rigours of Championship level racing and hopefully we will see him flourish very soon.

“All the boys are fully behind him and whilst I know he is very disappointed with his own result, we will give him all the encouragement he needs."

Speaking about the victory, which put Pirates third in the SGB Championship table, Ford said: “To come here and inflict such a solid victory on Redcar who have been unbeaten here this season was an absolutely incredible performance by all the boys.

“This was our best performance of the season so far and to do it here was just what the doctor ordered.”