BOSS Tom Killick believes physical and mental strength will both be key factors for Poole Town as the heat intensifies in the battle for Southern League promotion.

Poole’s bid to secure a play-off place was checked when Division One South & West rivals Yate Town claimed a deserved 1-1 draw at Tatnam on Saturday.

A share of the spoils, coupled with sixth-placed North Leigh’s late winner against Wimborne, saw Dolphins’ nine-point cushion trimmed to seven by the Oxfordshire outfit.

And with five games remaining and Poole facing a tough run-in, Killick knows there will be no place for faint hearts if the club is to continue its rise through the non-league pyramid.

Killick told the Daily Echo: “At the start of the season, I said our aim was to reach the play-offs. If we get there, we will only have achieved what we set out to do.

“There is a lot of hard work to be done and it wouldn’t be beyond the realms of possibility for us to lose our remaining games. We will probably need to win three of our last five games and that won’t be easy because we have got some tough matches left.

“We have got to go to North Leigh and Tiverton, two of the teams just below us, and Bishops Cleeve will be another tough away game. Our final two home games are against Wimborne and the leaders, Bideford.

“The atmosphere can change if you lose a couple in a row and we are looking both ways. We are still looking over our shoulder to make sure we are in the play-offs and are also looking above to see if we could secure home advantage by finishing second or third. There is still a lot to play for and we just want to be in the play-offs, irrespective of where we finish.”

Poole, beaten 3-1 at Yate in December, again found the Bristolians a tough nut to crack, with Taffy Richardson’s 49th-minute goal cancelling out Edd Vahid’s headed first-half opener.

Dolphins skipper Michael Walker, who was voted man of the match by the sponsors, said: “We didn’t lose but it was probably two points dropped. We have picked up some great results recently and need to maintain our excellent home form.

“We can’t worry about the teams above or below us. We have got to keep picking up points and try to finish as high as we can. Our first aim is to reach the play-offs and then we need to try to get a home game in the semi-final. As players, we need to be strong minded and, if we are, I am sure we will be fine.”