TOM Killick has urged Poole Town to maintain their play-off pace in a bid to dodge any late-season drama.

The Dolphins boss is desperate for his men to seal their top-five spot with time to spare in an attempt to avoid a nervy finale to the campaign.

Poole opened up a seven-point lead over the chasing pack by recovering from 1-0 down to defeat Bridgwater Town 2-1 on Saturday.

Trailing to Kye Palmer’s 64th-minute opener, Poole received a boost when the hosts were reduced to 10 men following a red card for central defender Neil Peek four minutes later.

The Dorset outfit capitalised when Scott Joyce levelled on 71 minutes before Will Spetch hit the winner.

With seven matches remaining in Poole’s regulation Southern League Division One South & West season, the fifth-placed Dolphins hold a seven-point lead over rivals Paulton Rovers and North Leigh.

Killick told the Daily Echo: “We have got a little bit of breathing space but our run-in is tough.

“I am relieved that we have a cushion but, still, if we lose two on the spin we could be out of the play-off places.

“I don’t really want to be going into the last two or three games needing to pick up points. That would be our ideal thing. Then, in the last game or two, we could concentrate on the play-offs and rest a few people.

“If it goes to the wire, it will make it more difficult.”

Killick praised substitute Joyce after the striker had scored following his introduction on the hour.

He said: “Scott and Steve Smith have been unfortunate because, at times, we have only played one recognised forward, so it has meant opportunities have been limited.

“Scott is always a goal threat so I was pleased for him to get the goal. He came on and scored against Taunton and did it again on Saturday, so that was good for his confidence.”

Discussing Saturday’s win, Killick added: “We were in control of the game, then their goal came out of the blue.

“Luckily, we equalised soon after and that was a key thing. They didn’t have time to consolidate and get organised.”

Dolphins: Hutchings, Spetch, Walker, Emmerson, Tallack (Pinder, 70), Preston, Brooks (Smith, 70), Howes, Richardson (Joyce, 60), Devlin, Cann. Unused sub: Bayston.