Poole's Tatnam Ground had a crowd of 924 for the FA Vase quarter-final

Poole Town boss Tom Killick fears his side's busy fixture list could affect their Wessex Premier league title bid.

Poole are third in the table, 12 points below leaders Winchester with seven games in hand, and they must now play seven games in the next three weeks.

Killick told BBC Radio Solent: "Our fixture congestion is horrific, and managing that will be a big problem.

"We're already behind and I'm concerned about the number of times we'll have to play but we just got to deal with it."

The Dolphins, who beat Torpoint Athletic 2-1 in the quarter-final of the FA Vase on Saturday, play current holders Whitley Bay in the penultimate round, with the first leg scheduled for 26 March while the second leg is on 2 April.

We are just elated to get past this stage, the semis are so cut throat and it's heartbreaking for a losing team to go out at that stage but we just got to get ourselves ready for it Poole Town boss Tom Killick

Whitley Bay beat Poole 3-1 in the fifth round last season and have won the competition for the last two years in a row, but Killick remains optimistic his side can maintain their successful cup run.

"To have two Saturday's taken out of the league calendar with the FA Vase will cause difficulty but the fact we are in contention for the league helps in that respect because it means we won't be able to lose any focus," he said.

"We have a good squad and I'm sure our opponents will be in similar situation.

"We are just elated to get past this stage, the semis are so cut throat and it's heartbreaking for a losing team to go out at that stage but we just got to get ourselves ready for it."

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