BOSS Tom Killick strongly condemned opponents Chippenham Town after a row erupted following Poole Town’s stormy 2-1 replay defeat against the nine-man Bluebirds.

Killick’s comments came after Dolphins were knocked out of the FA Trophy in a controversial first qualifying round tie last night that saw two Chippenham players dismissed and a melee in the closing stages.

Manager Killick said he did not wish to take away from the result after the hosts defied their numerical disadvantage to cancel out Scott Joyce’s 40th-minute opener to win with two second-half penalties.

But he was furious at what he deemed to be the unacceptable conduct of the Hardenhuish Park outfit.

Killick also accused his opposite number Adie Mings of punching Poole left-back Will Spetch in a clash that followed a tackle near the touchline in the closing stages.

Chippenham boss Mings, who was reportedly sent to the stands by referee Adam Matthews following the melee, refuted Killick’s claims and said his “conscience was clear.”

Killick said: “I don’t want people to think we are trying to deflect the emphasis from the result.

“But there are certain things that are acceptable in football and things that are not. I think what went on during the game was appalling. It is just not acceptable on any level. The thing involving their manager, I just don’t know how it can be tolerated.

“That element was something I think should be looked at. But on the playing side, Chippenham pulled off a brilliant result because they won a game with nine against 11.”

Giving his response to the Daily Echo, Mings said: “I did not punch anybody and I don’t need to go round punching people. That’s not my style. I’m always very controlled on the sidelines.

“I went to break up a situation where two players had come together on the touchline in front of me.”

By that stage, the Bluebirds had already seen defenders Greg Tindle and Nathan Rudge sent off.

Both managers were in agreement at the red card that saw Tindle dismissed for kicking out at Carl Preston.

Joyce then put Dolphins in front before Rudge was sent off following another off-the-ball clash involving ex-Cherries winger Preston. Killick claimed his player had been headbutted, while Mings felt the decision was harsh.

However, Chippenham then launched a fightback and claimed victory when Alan Griffin converted two hotly disputed penalties.

Killick added: “The nine players they had left on the pitch performed heroically and they deserved their win.

“We have got to accept that we were poor in allowing that to happen.

“But in my view, they did get two penalties that they should never have had.”

Dolphins: Hutchings, Gill, Walker, Dibba, Spetch, Preston, Howes (Best, h-t), Hubbard, L Clarke (Smith, 70), Cann, Joyce. Unused subs: Fisk, Richards, Jones (g/k).

• Late strikes from Bournemouth Poppies duo Kane Daysh and Dave Ewen denied New Milton Town at Fawcett’s Field last night.

The Wessex Premier strugglers led through Callum Tanner after two minutes but Poppies levelled on 88 minutes before grabbing a 2-1 win in added time.

Linnets: Amey, Morris, Drew, Stuart, Curtis, Bailey, Proctor (Howes, 70), Holland (Chester, 65), Baldacchino, Tanner, Donaldson. Unused subs: Harris, Davies, Thomas (g/k).

Poppies: Frampton, Daysh, Taylor, Byrne, Crutcher, J Blake, Rowley, Roast (M Blake, 55), Ewen, Saadi, McCormick (Keeler, 76). Unused subs: Stone, Warren, Vaughan (g/k).