HARD taskmaster Tom Killick felt his Poole Town side “weren’t quite ruthless enough” in front of goal despite their convincing success at hapless Hamble.

Aaron Skelton, Steve Smith and Charlie Austin were all on target inside 25 minutes as Dolphins tied up victory early.

But the runaway Premier Division leaders didn’t push on well enough for Killick to feel he could wholeheartedly celebrate his team’s 32nd unbeaten league game of an almost unbelievable campaign.

Smith and Austin also netted second-half goals, but Killick said: “We didn’t really play well.

“I know it sounds a harsh thing to say, but Hamble were struggling in terms of player availability and really we should have done a lot better than we did.

“We didn’t play at all well. We missed plenty of chances. We’re pleased to have won and to have scored five goals, but we certainly could have done a lot better.”

Killick, whose side remain 16 points clear at the top despite title rivals VT’s 7-1 victory at Bemerton, added: “If ever there were a game where we probably could have run up a big tally this was it, but we weren’t quite ruthless enough.

“However, I’m sure on Tuesday when we play Wimborne in the Dorset Senior Cup it’ll be a hugely different game.

“Sometimes it’s a bit easy to get stroppy when you are winning games comfortably. Sometimes it’s difficult to press on and score more goals.

“We know it’ll be a different game altogether against Wimborne at Hamworthy.”

Killick, whose side have 10 games left to see if they can go through their Wessex programme unbeaten, rated midfielder Carl Preston their top player at Hamble.

The manager said: “Steve’s first goal was a very good finish when he lobbed the goalkeeper from 25-to-30 yards out, and Carl terrorised them all afternoon.

“They couldn’t really get near him, and he beat two or three men before squaring the ball back for Charlie to get his second.

“Then Stuart Brown came on as a sub and superbly set up Steve for the last goal.

“But I don’t think it was a vintage performance and if I had to pick someone out Carl was really too much for Hamble.

“He’s an out-and-out winger. He has a great left foot and skill.”

Poole Town: Harvell, Poore, Dibba, Whitley, Browne (Brown 70), Preston, Hubbard, Skelton (Richardson 60), Gill (Culliford 60), Austin, Smith. Unused subs: Ayley, Cuss.