POOLE Town assistant boss Luke Burbidge labelled Bashley a “decent outfit” as Dolphins prepare to face the New Forest side.

Poole take on Bash on Friday (7.45pm) at Hythe & Dibden for their third pre-season friendly of the summer, having won 3-0 at Shaftesbury, before a 2-0 home loss to Dorking Wanderers.

Looking back on defeat to Dorking, Burbidge told Dolphins’ club media: “We always knew it was going to be a tough game.

“A pre-season workout is just about getting minutes in the legs for the lads. I think both teams did that.

“They brought 22 players and rotated at half-time and we did very similar just after half-time, made a number of changes.

“I thought everyone gave a good account of themselves really. The lads worked hard. We can’t fault that.

“The higher up you go, small margins make the difference. They’ve had two chances and scored them both. The second goal was a great overhead kick, a great finish.

“We’ve had three half chances that we haven’t taken. But ultimately it was just about getting minutes in the legs. The result wasn’t the major overriding factor.”

Asked if there were any standout performers, Burbidge added: “I thought Billy Lowes was superb. He was all over the park.

“I thought Staunts (Josh Staunton) and Jake McCarthy as well, dropping back in at centre-half, the lads in on trial as well, three or four of them gave a good account of themselves.

“I thought Tyler Forbes, particularly second half, in a 15-minute spell just after half-time was really good, really positive.

“But making so many changes, it’s hard for players to get into the game anyway.”

Attention now moves to Friday’s trip to Bashley, a side who compete in a league below Poole, whereas Dorking are a level above.

Burbidge said: “Friday will be Bashley, another decent outfit in the league below, so that will be probably like the Shaftesbury game, another test for us that we’ll come out on top in.”