POOLE TOWN are not used to walking off the pitch defeated these days, so following their dramatic 4-0 FA Vase exit against Willand Rovers, manager Paul Morrell put it down to "a bad day at the office."

Prior to kick off the Dolphins had netted 23 goals and conceded just one in their opening five games of the season.

So another healthy crowd turned up to Tatnam Farm expecting to see more of the same from their free-scoring Hamp-shire Premier League leaders.

It wasn't to be, and Morrell kept his players locked in the dressing room after the game.

"The bottom line is they were up for it more than us," said Morrell.

"They were sharper than us all over the pitch and it's very disappointing.

"We had a lock-in after the game and had a constructive chat. There's no point in ranting and raving, we just sat down and constructively went through the game."

Morrell and assistant manager Dean Mooney weren't helped prior to kick off with the news that Paul Manning had been involved in a minor car crash on the way to the ground.

Manning did not suffer any injuries, but was unable to get to the ground on time for the match, leaving the management duo to re-think their plans.

Morrell added: "We had to name him as a sub because he couldn't get to the match in time for kick off. That changed our plans a little bit but to be honest we didn't compete.

"It was a lacklustre performance, but we'll put this behind us and this is now where character comes in.

"It's disappointing for the supporters. Everyone behind the scenes put a lot of work in and I'm very grateful for that. I'm sure the lads will put it right next week."

Skipper Graham Kemp, who played in the Lymington and New Milton side who came back from 4-0 down after 20 minutes against Willand Rovers last season to win an incredible match 5-4, made some crucial blocks in the first half, but by his standards also made some elimentary mistakes.

Morrell added: "I'll give my players credit when it is due, but today I think defensively we were very poor.

"A few of the lads are man enough to hold their hands up and be counted. Graham (Kemp) is an experienced player and he turned round to me and said that he was sorry for his performance.

"He admitted he was poor today, but so were a few other people."

The Dolphins in patches threatened to step up a gear and play the sort of football their watching faithful have been enjoying recently, but after 22 minutes an extremely harsh penalty was given to the visitors for an innocuous challenge on Christian Gray.

Neil Cane scored from the spot and a minute after the interval anything that was said at the half time break in the Poole dressing room was given a metaphorical kick in the teeth.

Richard Harris floated a cross into the danger zone and Phill Everett jumped high above the Dolphins defence to nod past Neil Potter in the Poole goal.

Then Nick Bourah struck a free kick which ballooned off the wall and into the arms of Potter. The keeper was unable to keep hold of the ball though and dropped it in front of a grateful John Norman, who slotted home for 3-0.

In injury time Bourah played the ball through a non-existent Poole defence and Nick Murray beat the offside trap to slot past Potter for the fourth.

Referee Guy Beale, who ran the line in Cherries' Auto Windscreens Final against Grimsby also had a poor game.

Poole: Potter, Gater, Woodward, Kemp, Mooney (Morris 81), Wood, L.Manning, Reeks (P Manning 50), Cornick (Burt 67), Miles, White. Unused subs: Muir, Maloney.