TOM Killick paid tribute to central defenders Lamin Dibba and Michael Walker following a narrow victory over Winchester that propelled Poole back to the top of the table.

Russell Cook fired in Dolphins’ second-half winner as they leapfrogged City in the standings, with the Dorset side, Bemerton and Winchester all level on 26 points in a tight tussle for the title.

But Poole manager Killick praised his defence for the role they played in grabbing a crucial victory against one of the sides he believes will push the Tatnam outfit all the way in the championship race.

Killick said: “Lamin made his 100th appearance for us against Winchester and he and Michael Walker together are head and shoulders above any other central defensive pairing in this league.

“I also feel they are better than most central defensive partnerships in the league above.

“We’re very lucky to have them and they were both very solid again in this match.

“I don’t think it’s too much of a coincidence that since bringing those two together after a handful of games this season we’ve looked much stronger at the back, particularly when you add in the return of Carl Poore and Jake Smeeton, a left back from Dorchester Town.”

Poole Town: Jones, Poore, Smeeton, Dibba (Spetch, 82), M Walker, Rowe, Gill, Hubbard (Skelton, 82), Cook (S Smith, 82), Preston, Cann. Unused subs: Richardson, S Walker.