POOLE Town boss Tommy Killick has snapped up Christchurch striker Ben Osborne and is "actively" pursuing another front man.

Osborne has been brought in because Karim Benssaouda is unavailable and Stuart Brown is still struggling with an ankle injury.

With Stuart Cannie also having left Tatnam Farm to "take a break" from football, it has left Sydenhams Wessex League table-topping Dolphins looking to bolster their squad ahead of their Premier Division visit to Alresford tomorrow (3pm).

Killick said: "Ben was at Brockenhurst last season and then moved to Christchurch with Graham Kemp in the summer.

"I have known him a long time. He was at Wimborne when I was player-coach there about eight years ago. He was 18 then in the reserves and on the fringe of the first team.

"I have kept an eye on him since and every time we have come up against him in recent seasons he has impressed me."

Killick added: "I watched him play for Christchurch at Wimborne in pre-season and he did very well against a strong side.

"He is a good all-round striker and one of the best forwards in our league.

"Ben missed a few games for Christchurch when he went on holiday, came back and was on the bench for a while.

"I hope he will do well for us because our squad is probably a bit stretched lately. We have lost three or four players over the past few weeks.

"As well as Ben, I'm actively looking to bring in another person.

"I think we need another forward because I have always said you need four strikers in your squad to help cover for suspensions and injuries.

"We are hoping the Osborne paperwork will go through in time.

"Subject to that, I would expect him to start at Alresford tomorrow."

On Cannie's departure, Killick said: "I don't think Stuart has been enjoying his football. He has been on the fringes and that probably hasn't helped.

"There has been no falling out between us. It's a decision he has made that I fully respect."

Poole have injury doubts over Trefor Smith and Dan Cann, while Aaron Skelton will be rested because of a knee problem.

Poole Town: (from) Frampton, Whitley, Yelland, I Richardson, Funnell, Bowden, Cann, Culliford, S Richardson, Sturgess, T Smith, S Smith, Osborne, Lima, Campion, Fisk, Fairbrother.