BOSS Tom Killick hailed the “great response” of his Poole Town squad as they cruised to a 3-1 home win over Southern League South rivals Farnborough.
A Marvin Brooks double along with a goal from makeshift striker Will Spetch ensured Dolphins got back to winning ways in Southern League South, following a 2-1 defeat at arch rivals Wimborne on New Year’s Day.
Killick told the Daily Echo: “I thought it was a really great response after a very poor performance against Wimborne.
“I thought the players responded really well in the first half and then the early stages of the second half – it was a very accomplished performance.”
Spetch enjoyed the limelight in his role as makeshift striker, waiting just two minutes to open the scoring by poking home from a Luke Holmes cross.
After waiting three months for a home game, Dolphins made up for lost time in front of their own fans when Marvin Brooks stooped down low to convert Cherries youngster Luke Pardoe’s cross on the 13-minute mark.
Poole’s control of the game continued into the second half. Jamie Whisken broke forward from the defensive ranks to set-up a clinical attack.
Striding up the pitch, the centre-half eventually ended his 30-yard run with a curling cross, placed perfectly for Brooks to dive down again and put Poole beyond reach.
A conceded penalty spoiled a clean sheet for Dolphins, but the hosts comfortably withstood waves of Farnborough attacks to register a first win of 2020.
Killick also praised the impact of skipper Whisken, who had been influential at both ends of the pitch.
“Whisk was probably one of the players I was very disappointed with in terms of the Wimborne game, because he is our captain and he has to take responsibility,” the manager said.
“When you are looking for a response, that was a true captain’s performance – not just organisational, motivational, but I felt he was very technical on the ball.”
Fans had also questioned Dolphins’ decision not to play a recognised frontman – and Killick was keen to set the record straight.
“It just goes to show – 95 per cent of the time the supporters are brilliant,” he added.
“But I read some comments that they found it bizarre that I didn’t pick a recognised striker against Wimborne. That’s because I didn’t have one!
“I didn’t have one against Farnborough either, so that’s why Spetchy played up there. I felt he did a very good job.”
Poole: Cairney, Dickson, Jackson (Maybury, 70), Leslie-Smith, Whisken, Pardoe (Grange, 77), Carmichael (Smeeton, 80), Moore, Spetch, Brooks, Holmes. Unused subs: Phillips, Oliver.
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