POOLE boss Tom Killick is not too fussed his side barely got a touch of the ball against Cherries’ under-23s – as he believes the run-around Shaun Cooper’s side gave Dolphins will be beneficial in the long run.

Cherries named a younger side than the team that faced Poole at the BlackGold last pre-season, but stalwart Killick was still impressed as the guests comfortably won 3-1 thank to goals from former Dolphins Jake Scrimshaw and Marcus Daws.

One-time Cherry Wes Fogden popped up with a header against his old team, initially restoring parity after Scrimshaw's first goals, but it eventually proved to be consolation.

Striving to be factual, Killick joked to the Daily Echo: “We touched it I think three times in total - no, it must be more than that because of the kick-offs!

“So probably about six touches and then we did an awful lot of running. They were a younger team than we played when we last played them, but they were still too good for us.

“So credit to them. I was disappointed with certain elements of our performance, but from a physical workout point of view, it can't really get any better because we were just having to chase shadows at times.

“I think it is sometimes a bit demoralising to watch it, but in terms of what the players will get out of it physically (it’s) ideal. Once again, credit to Bournemouth for showing out how good they are, even with a young team themselves.”

Poole are back in action this afternoon as they face further Dorset opposition. Weymouth, who ply their trade in the division above Poole, visit the BlackGold for a 3pm kick-off.

After starting with wins over Hamworthy Recreation and Swanage & Herston, Poole were defeated 3-1 twice in the span of four days, with Bashley and Cherries proving far fitter than Dolphins at this stage of pre-season.

Killick believes the clash with Weymouth will test his charges in a different way, stating: “As much as (the Cherries game) was brilliant for us physically, Weymouth I'm sure, will be at a really high level as well, but I think they'll probably play a style of football we'll probably encounter more than what we came up against (Bournemouth).

“It'll be slightly more non-league, if I can put it in that way, because it’s a non-league team that will be higher in the pyramid.

“But, we don't come up against teams that play in the way that Bournemouth did very often. So physically amazing.

“But (Weymouth) will probably be a bit closer to what we're used to and what we can expect from a football perspective.”