TOMMY Killick hailed an "important" win for Poole Town as they held on for a 2-1 win over a much-improved Hamble side.
Killick said: "We really needed to get the three points from that game because a lot of teams around us have games in hand. It was important that we won and we just about deserved it."
Richard Glenister supplied the finish early in the game as Gary Funnell stole possession and found the striker inside the penalty box.
And when 18-year-old winger Ali Harris made it 2-0 midway through the first half with a terrific header from Ryan Woolfenden's cross, the game appeared to be in Poole's hands.
Killick admitted: "I thought it might be plain sailing from there, but the second half was hard work."
Hamble, ordered on from the touchline by the ever-vocal Hamble boss Danny Bowers, pulled one back and threatened to find an equaliser before a late tactical switch from the Dolphins.
Killick laughed: "Taffy Richardson suggested we went to three at the back and if you argue with Taffy you tend to end up in a heap!
"But we bounce ideas off each other and I was happy to go along with it. Thankfully, it worked and we held out for the win."
Killick also confirmed that towering centre-back Chris Swann, who has recently been at Christchurch, had signed for the club.
Pool Town: Mitchener, Hounsell (Sturgess, 65), Whitley, Spalding, Bartlett, Funnell, Richardson, Woolfenden, Harris, Glenister (Bayston, 80), Phillips. Unused subs: Reeks, Chivers.
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