Dolphins manager Tom Killick feared his side were on the way out of the FA Vase after Eastbourne United forced extra time with a dramatic 90th-min-ute equaliser that made it 3-3.

But Poole Town’s boss shouldn’t have worried because Russell Cook broke the deadlock again with an “out of this world volley” which restored their lead in overtime.

Then Mickey Hubbard kept his cool to convert a late penalty to secure the Wessex League champions’ hard-fought 5-3 third round victory as they moved into the last 32.

Poole had rushed into a 2-0 advantage with first-half strikes from Hubbard and Cook before their Sussex County Division One hosts equalised with goals from Lucas Mann and Stephen Dallaway midway through the second period.

Stuart Brown fired Dolphins into a 3-2 lead seven minutes from the end of normal time, only for Dallaway to blast a last-gasp leveller for Eastbourne and force an extra 30 minutes.

A relieved Killick said: “To concede in the 90th minute was a real body blow, and I feared for us in extra time because it looked like Eastbourne had the momentum and the bit between their teeth.

“I was concerned we might give it away, but the boys dug in and ended up deserving to win.

“Russell’s goal to make it 4-3 was a real wonder goal. The ball bounced, he turned and volleyed it and it just flew into the far corner.

“They had a defender sent off for handling the ball on the line before Mickey made it 5-3 from the spot and I was really pleas-ed with the spirit we showed.

“I’m sure we’ll play better, but there were lots of goals conceded as a result of the terrible rainy conditions. Overall the lads showed tremendous spirit and that was the overriding feature of our win for me.”

Poole are the sole Sydenhams Wessex League side left in the competition following Brockenhurst’s third round 3-1 extra time defeat at Dawlish.

But Killick, a Vase winner at the old Wembley with Wimborne in 1992, refused to get carried away ahead of Monday’s fourth round draw.

He said: “To a degree, we’ll treat the Vase a bit more seriously now, but the league is still our main target this season.”

However, Killick added: “The last 32 is when you start attracting everyone’s attention.

“I know I go on about it, but in knockout competitions you can’t get too carried away.”

Poole Town: Jones, Poore, Dibba, Lloyd, Whitley, Hubbard, Skelton (Sturgess, 75), T Smith, Gill (Preston, 75), Brown (S Smith, 108), Cook. Unused sub: Richardson.