Manager Tom Killick believes the decision to drop Jez Bedford for Jack Dickson in Poole’s game against Metropolitan Police was the right call, despite it being ‘tough’ on the former Portsmouth midfielder.
Bedford began the season on the bench, coming on as a half-time substitute for Josh Carmichael in the 4-3 loss to Gosport. Despite being a centre-midfielder by trade, Bedford has since been utilised largely as a left-winger, with Killick praising the Poole-born player for his sacrifice.
Speaking to All Poole Aren’t We, Killick stated: “It was tough. Jez started off this season not playing, and then he has come in and done very well. Sometimes you’ve got to do what you feel you’ve got to do.
“I feel that Jez has been unbelievably workman-like. Me and Jez have spoken, that before his weakness was perhaps not being as effective at times when we haven’t got the ball, but now I feel he has really worked on that.
“His mentality is a lot different, and it’s a huge improvement in relation to that. What he needs to concentrate on now is his end product – adding a few more assists and goals. But, he’s doing very well. He’s a young lad, he’s making progress all the time, [Saturday] was just a tough call to leave him out.
“He’ll be back and will play a big part in future games, I’m sure.”
Killick was forced into another change with the absence of Jamie Whisken, with Sean Wright again stepping into the breach admirably.
Whilst Wright couldn’t make it a second cleansheet on his second game of the season, Killick felt the young centre-half played without fault under frustrating circumstances.
“I thought Sean Wright did well,” began Killick.
“The only frustration for us, and I know it was frustration on both sides in terms of some of the decisions that were being made. Most of the opportunities they seemed to be having in the second half were free kicks. A lot of them, we didn’t feel were free kicks.
“Even their goal was a freekick that shouldn’t have been given. Then, after the ball has been delivered into the box, felt that Luke Holmes was fouled on the edge of the box, certainly by the standard of decisions that the referee had given freekicks for that type of offence.
“He’s given them all over the pitch, all game. Suddenly we have one on the edge of the box, Luke Holmes has contact from behind – it’s not massive contact, but it would have been consistent with what the referee has set as a threshold for a free kick, but he hasn’t given one.
“Then we’ve conceded a goal from it, so we feel a bit hard done by. We had our work cut out today, and I felt we defended very well.
“We’re a bit frustrated having gone in front we couldn’t keep a cleansheet and come away with all three points. Once the dust has settled, we’ll be happy to have a point.”
Killick did concede that Met were the best side Poole have faced all season, stating: “I must admit, I was impressed with them. I think they’re the best team we’ve played against, certainly the most effective.
“Overall, we’re satisfied. I think if they maintain that level of performance, there won’t be many teams that will win here.”
All Poole Aren't We 