INTERIM Poole Town boss James Ellis explained the thinking behind under-23s manager Luke Burbidge taking charge of Dolphins’ 2-1 win over Wimborne Town in the Dorset Senior Cup.

Both sides went with young-looking teams on the New Cuthbury 3G, but it was the senior names that got on the scoresheet as Toby Holmes and Harvey Wright found the back of the net for Poole whilst Jack Hoey scored for Wimborne.

Poole have won the last two iterations of the competition, and will now advance to play Shaftesbury in the semi final.

Ellis explained that after having to play a younger side to preserve Poole’s players for league games, that it only made sense to turn to Burbidge to lead the Dolphins.

He told the Daily Echo: “We had to make a decision.

“We've got a very thin squad.

“The depth of the squad is not as much as we would like.

“In terms of the first teamers that came in, Toby Holmes and Harvey Wright, they're suspended for the weekend so we could put them.

“Harry Hutchinson, Kaya (Tshaka) they both came in, stayed on 45 at the weekend. And Ky Samadi was missing at the weekend due to illness.

“Will Butler came in as well, back from his loan at Christchurch, which was brilliant.

“So really that was the extent that we could go to.

“I obviously therefore thought it was necessary that Luke (Burbidge), who knows a lot of the rest of the squad, I think it was appropriate for him to lead on the fixture tonight.

“And honestly, this week, he's been brilliant.

“I feel like the club have really pulled together and got the rewards tonight.”