BOSS Steve Tully says keeping a clean sheet was the most pleasing aspect of Poole Town’s pre-season opener at Shaftesbury.

Dolphins got their summer schedule underway with a 3-0 victory over the Rockies, thanks to goals from Toby Holmes and new signings Jack Hoey and Jake McCarthy.

It marks the first of eight scheduled friendlies this month, before the start of the Southern League campaign.

Reflecting on the win at Shaftesbury, former Exeter City defender Tully told Poole’s club media: “Really pleased. I think a good workout, that’s what it’s all about, getting minutes in the legs for the players, building combinations, building partnerships and actually to get back out on the football pitch.

“I think it’s eight weeks since they had last been on a football pitch together.

“A lot of new players, a few trialists, but it’s all about building combinations and partnerships.

“But I’m really pleased. The goals are a bonus. I thought 3-0 was a good scoreline. It’s a good start.”

He added: “I’m pleased with the performance. I think you can build momentum through pre-season.

“We want to be a winning team and we’ve got to build that mentality.

“What pleased me the most was the clean sheet.

“There were a lot of tired bodies at the end. To keep a clean sheet is a good start.

“It’s a starting block.”

Poole face a step up in quality of opposition on Saturday, when they welcome Dorking Wanderers of National League South to BlackGold Stadium (1pm).

Looking ahead to that test, Tully said: “We had a lot of the ball (against Shaftesbury).

“On Saturday, it will probably be the other way.

“We’ve got to make sure we defend properly out of possession and how are we going to deal with them probably having a lot of the ball?

“We’ve got to make sure we keep our shape right, keep our distances between midfield, defence and attack and make sure it’s in a good place.”