BOSS Tom Killick is hoping Poole Town’s 2-1 victory at Totton & Eling on Tuesday could prove to be a watershed on Waterside.

Goals from Stuart Brown and Steve Smith saw the Dolphins bounce back following their shock defeat by Totton’s neighbours Blackfield & Langley on Saturday.

A dip in form for Killick’s charges has coincided with the departure of ace marksman Charlie Austin, who was among the crowd at Southern Gardens as Poole came from behind to see off the Millers.

Killick said: “We are suffering from a lack of confidence at the moment. It is the first time for a long time and it is holding us back.

“When we went 1-0 down, I feared for us. But we responded really well and, although we didn’t play brilliantly, you couldn’t argue with the effort and desire.

“A few weeks ago, I would have been frustrated with the performance but, as things are, I was very pleased to win. I’m still confident we can get back to our best.”

Chris Marwood’s 10th-minute header threatened to heap more misery on the Dolphins as Totton & Eling made a lively start.

But after Brown had restored parity in the 36th minute and Smith had put Poole in front after the break, Millers goalkeeper Denis Wheeler performed heroics to keep the score in check.

The only blemish for Poole was the late dismissal of skipper Carl Poore who received his marching orders for collecting two yellow cards, the second for needlessly kicking the ball away.

Killick said his captain had been “foolish to put himself in that position”, before adding he felt Poore’s first booking for a foul had been “harsh”.

Dolphins: Jones, Poore, Dovell, Lloyd, Whitley, Sturgess (Culliford, 72), T Smith, Hubbard, Brown (Cook, 83), S Smith, Preston. Unused subs: Richardson, Gill, Ackerman (g/k).

New Milton’s baffling season continued as they chalked up their third away win in four – with 11 of their 12 league points having come on the road.

First-half goals from Mark Lilley, Ashley Booker and Callum Burt earned Linnets a 3-1 victory at Lymington Town, whose reply came from Jamie Nash.

Linnets: Webb, Chengadu, Clarke, Colman, Byers, Kenna, White, Quirk (Quinn, 70), Burt, Lilley (Gunn, 85), Booker. Unused subs: Walliss, Totczyk.

New recruits Tom Earles and Dave Town both featured in Bashley’s 2-0 defeat at VT in the first round of the Southern League Cup.

A much-changed Bash line up, including 43-year-old manager Steve Riley, bowed out to second-half goals from Ryan Ashford and Warren Hunt, while visiting goalkeeper Joe Prodomo saved a Kevin Gibbens penalty.

Bash: Prodomo, Mason, Mead, Riley, Gazzard, Earles (Keeler 77), McCarthy, Allen, Tarr, Town, Bray. Unused subs: Knowles, Kelly, Ferrett, Elm (g/k).