TOM Killick is probably the only manager to encourage player power.

Only those present in the Poole Town dressing room at Tatnam on Saturday would have been privy to their half-time discussions.

Chances are though, and after a dreadful first-half showing, skipper Michael Walker and veteran campaigner Taffy Richardson were not among the shrinking violets.

Sponsors’ man of the match Walker and goal hero Richardson were both pivotal as a vastly-improved second-half display saw Poole earn a potentially-priceless point.

But while manager Killick and assistant James Wood would doubtless have had their say at the interval, any tea-cup throwing would probably have been left to the players.

Killick said: “Sometimes, our changing room is not a happy or friendly place and I would rather have it that way. I would rather have players setting their own high standards, led by people like Michael and Taffy.

“If people watch us and we aren’t playing well then they would think the players hated each other because the environment can become quite difficult.

“There are heated exchanges from time to time, both in games and in training. If you have strong characters, you will get that. If you haven’t then the whole atmosphere can be different.

“It is a fine line. People say we have got a great spirit and everybody gets on. You have to have that but there has also got to be an edge to it. I like the mentality of the players.”

Such was the lack of atmosphere at Tatnam during the opening period that the first 45 minutes could have been played out at Poole Library.

“Well, that was a load of rubbish,” said one disgruntled punter as he headed to the tea bar. And while his summation may have been accurate, off days for Poole Town in recent months have been as rare as rocking horse manure.

While Yate’s 14th-minute opening goal, an unopposed header by captain Edd Vahid, will have upset Mr Angry, the not inconsequential matter of 12 wins from their past 16 games was clearly a distant memory.

Since losing at Yate in December, Poole have taken 40 from a possible 54 points and are on course to reach the Division One South & West play-offs in their first season back in the Southern League.

This share of the spoils could yet prove decisive in the final reckoning, although, but for some woeful finishing from Dave Stone, Poole could have been left with a mountain to climb in the second half.

Having capitalised on some ponderous defending from Will Spetch, the pacy Stone raced clear after 32 minutes, only to poke his shot wide after goalkeeper Nick Hutchings had advanced to narrow the angle.

While a mule-like throw from Dan Cann had resulted in Poole having a penalty claim waved away in the third minute after Walker had gone to ground, the same tactic almost brought about an equaliser.

However, after Walker had flicked on Cann’s Rory Delap-esque delivery, Richardson could only scoop his close-range header over the crossbar on the stroke of half-time.

“I don’t know what people on the sidelines thought but, on the pitch, the first half was quite flat,” said Walker. “Our tempo is always to be bang at the opposition but we didn’t find any in the first half.

“We got a talking-to at half-time and were riled in the second half. We deserved a point and were unlucky not to sneak it at the end.”

A scaffolder by trade, Walker made his feelings known on several occasions during the opening period before two brave headed blocks from the Terminator of Tatnam denied both Matt Groves and Harley Purnell after the break.

Walker, 28, added: “You know which players you can kick up and which ones you need to give good information. I know who I can rile to get a reaction and who I need to big up if they are having a sticky patch.

“We have got a great set of lads. There are no individuals and no big-time Charlies. We are a level-headed group and there is no reason why we can’t kick on and get out of this league. We are a strong team and a strong club.”

Bluebells goalkeeper Josh Dempsey turned from hero to villain inside 60 seconds as Poole restored parity four minutes into the second half.

Dempsey pulled off a stunning fingertip save to push on to the crossbar a thunderous 25-yard free-kick from the impressive Steve Devlin.

However, he immediately blotted his copybook when he allowed Keith Emmerson’s routine strike to squirm through his grasp, with Richardson, the oldest player on the pitch, showing the reactions of a teenager to pounce for the leveller.

Dempsey almost gifted Poole a winner when he fumbled Walker’s header, although the hosts also had a let-off when Stone nodded against the crossbar nine minutes from time.

Dolphins: Hutchings 6.5, Tallack 7.5 (Baldacchino, 87), Spetch 6, Emmerson 6.5, Walker 7.5, Brooks 6.5, Richardson 6.5 (Pinder, 67), Devlin 8, Joyce 6 (S Smith, 73), Preston 6, Cann 6. Unused subs: Clarke, Skelton.

Booked: Richardson, Cann, Emmerson.

Bluebells: Dempsey, Cox, Mings, Adams, Thomas, Purnell, Groves, Vahid, Stone (Cousins, 90), Meaker (Ferguson, 61), Mackie. Unused subs: Knighton, Nicholls.

Referee: Maurice Taylor (Blackfield).

Attendance: 362.