DORCHESTER Town manager Tom Killick heaped praise on AFC Totton after watching the Stags thrash his side 4-0 at the Avenue Stadium in the final game of the season.

Killick’s men finished ninth in the Pitching In Southern League Premier South, compared to Totton’s second, but there was a gulf in finishing class.

Scott Rendell put Jimmy Ball’s troops in front after just 123 seconds, following a rare howler from Dorchester keeper Jameson Horlick.

Rendell doubled Totton’s lead with a fine finish on 30 minutes, as Dorchester failed to turn possession, territory and chances into goals.

READ MORE: Dorchester Town 0-4 AFC Totton - report

Ethan Taylor scored a clinical third in the 48th minute and Rendell completed his hat-trick with an unmarked header 26 minutes from time.

Dorchester did not register a shot on target in the 90 minutes as Totton gave the Magpies a harsh lesson in finishing.

Killick told Echosport: “I’m really disappointed for the supporters who turned up in such good numbers to see a game that was over long before the end.

“It’s exactly what we didn’t want and what they didn’t deserve. I’m sad about that. I’m sad the players didn’t go out how they wanted to go out in terms of finishing the season.

“But, it does give you a reality check. We’ve got some amazing potential but we’ve got to take the next step, and it is a big step.

“We probably need some acquisitions, not loads, but two or three people of real quality.

“As sad as I am, as gutted as I am about how (Saturday) panned out, it does make you realise how far you’ve got to come, what work there still is to do.

“We are full of potential. We need to step up the levels, we need to progress both in terms of what we’ve got and with external recruitment.

“(Totton) are the polar opposite to us in terms of the profile of their squad. It’s absolutely packed with players that are the finished article.

“Whereas, we’ve got a lot of players that I’ve got a real confidence will end up having good careers at some sort of level but they’ve still got a way to go.”

Killick did offer some mitigation towards the four-goal margin between the sides, highlighting Totton’s ability to raise the level of their squad throughout the season.

He said: “Sometimes, the disappointment I’ve got has to be tempered. I honestly feel if you look at Totton now compared to the start of the season, they’ve improved a lot, which is to their great credit.

“They’re newly promoted, it takes time to move forward. Over the course of the season they’ve really moved forward.

“I believe if they had that squad of players from the start, they would’ve been toe-to-toe with Chesham. They’re a very accomplished side.

“We made a few mistakes and got ruthlessly punished. We looked quite pretty at times, we looked quite dynamic at times and probably didn’t hurt them enough.

“You’ve got to give them great credit because all you can ask of a manager is to gradually improve the team. They’ve been promoted, had a little look and gradually got better.

“They’re now a real force and you wouldn’t bet against them in the play-offs I don’t think.”

Dorchester can take solace in the fact they achieved their highest league placing since the 2012/13 season, when the Magpies claimed eighth in the Conference South.