POOLE Town boss Tom Killick admitted he was relieved after his side had finally found a way past inspired New Milton goalkeeper Tom Clifton-Moore at Tatnam.

The teenage stopper thwarted the Dolphins by pulling off a series of top-drawer saves before he was eventually beaten by Charlie Austin’s second-half double.

Clifton-Moore’s heroics denied Kevin Gill, Stuart Brown and Steve Richardson as rapidly improving New Milton kept the league leaders at bay during the opening period.

But irrepressible striker Austin settled Poole’s nerves by opening the scoring just seconds after the break before his stunning second sank the spirited visitors 15 minutes from time.

Poole boss Killick said: “It wasn’t a brilliant game but we dominated and their goalkeeper just made save after save.

“I was getting more and more concerned because I felt either we weren’t going to score at all or that they would somehow conjure a goal and we would lose.

“We didn’t play particularly well but we created more than enough chances to have won the game comfortably. Their goalkeeper made sure we didn’t.

“New Milton are improving all the time and have got some good, young players. We didn’t have it all our own way but we certainly created the lion’s share of the chances.”

Poole also handed a debut to veteran goalkeeper Kevin Leonard, whose arrival on a loan basis from Hamworthy Recreation did little for the average age of the Dolphins squad.

Killick added: “Taffy (Steve Richardson) was doing cartwheels around the changing room because he was no longer the oldest player in the team!

“When we started, Mickey Hubbard said we looked like Dad’s Army. Kevin is 43, Taffy is 42, Simon Browne is 37 and Aaron Skelton is 34. Apart from them, we’re quite a young side!”

Killick added: Kevin did well and took it all in his stride. He didn’t have a great deal to do but what he did have to do, he did well. He talked well and looked quite assured. I’m sure he could still do a job in the Wessex League.”

New Milton secretary Richie Phippard also heaped praise on Clifton-Moore when he said: “He was outstanding. He made three saves in the first half which he had no right to make and didn’t have a chance with either of the goals.

“In my opinion, Charlie Austin is far too good for this league. We may have made a mistake for his first goal but his second one was first class.

“We lost 6-0 here last season and it could have been 10. Although we lost again, it was some consolation to have played well.”