MANAGERIAL rivals Tom Killick and Frank Gray offered vastly differing opinions after Karim Benssaouda’s last-gasp equaliser had rescued an FA Trophy replay for Poole Town .

Irate Killick blasted his players while Gray was pleased with his team’s performance after Saturday’s first qualifying round showdown at Tatnam  finished 1-1.

The Southern League outfits will do it all again tomorrow night after Algerian striker Benssaouda plundered a late leveller, driving home the rebound after Keith Emmerson’s shot had been parried by debutant Bash keeper Stuart Moore.

Bash had led through Marvin Brooks’s own goal four minutes after half-time, the Dolphins midfielder finding the wrong net when trying to defend an inswinging free-kick.

Referee Mark Lawrence felt the wrath of Bash boss Gray at the interval after awarding a free-kick on the edge of the box in the 16th minute – despite Will Spetch appearing to handle Andrew Jenkinson’s through ball inside the area.

Poole’s Carl Preston hit the post before the break, but it was the visitors who were left to rue a late miss from James Stokoe as Benssaouda struck.

Killick told the Daily Echo: “I thought we were wholly inadequate from start to finish and although we’re relieved to get the replay, we cannot let that disguise the fact that the performance was unacceptable.

“I felt there wasn’t any real conviction or desire about our play and that is the thing you find inexcusable as a manager.

“The quality on display from both sides was poor. Bashley were possibly the slightly better of two poor sides.”

Meanwhile, Bash boss Gray said: “I was very pleased with the performance. For 85 minutes, we played well and just switched off for that last five minutes. We allowed someone to run from just outside our half to the edge of our box without a challenge going in.

“Overall, I think we looked the better side, but being the best team doesn’t always win football matches. We’ve got to learn how to win.”

Gray felt aggrieved at the penalty decision at 0-0, adding: “The referee was quite close to the incident but made a genuine mistake at a crucial period in the game.”

Killick said: “I’m told it was definitely in the area but whether Will had enough room to take evasive action is dubious. We had a stonewall penalty turned down for a push on Michael Walker, so it happens.

“I don’t think Bashley can claim that as a turning point. There were decisions that went against both sides.”

Dolphins: Hutchings, Baines (S Brown, 69), Spetch, Emmerson, Walker, S Richardson (Wilson, 58), Kelly (Burbidge, 77), Devlin, Benssaouda, Preston, Brooks. Unused subs: O’Donnell, T Brown (g/k).

Bash: Moore, Smith, Casey, Strickland, Middleton, I Richardson, Finlay (Oliver, 80), Hill, Stokoe, Jenkinson, Knight. Unused subs: Gazzard, Farren, Vokes, Kearn (g/k).