JUBILANT Magpies’ chief Mark Jermyn praised the efforts of his players after they gave title-chasing Poole Town an Easter surprise at the Avenue yesterday afternoon.

Nick Crittenden popped up with the winner just short of the hour mark to give the county town side a 2-1 victory and an enthralled Jermyn, who started the season as a Poole Town player, could not speak more highly of his charges’ efforts.

“I said to the players before the game that it meant a lot to me because I was there at the start of the season and it’s a big local derby now,” he said.

“All due respect to Poole, they are up there for a reason and they have good players.

“I spoke to a couple of their players after the game and they said we thoroughly deserved it and I believe that as well.

“It was all about the players and what they can do. Everybody says about how we have turned it around and I just want to reiterate the fact it’s not myself and Nick that have done that, it’s the players and I really stand by that.”

Jermyn also expressed his emotions when veteran midfielder Crittenden struck home what proved to be the winner. “It was one of relief and one that I felt the lads needed,” he added.

“They just needed that little bit of belief today and I felt they had it.

“For that to go in for them, I just felt it shows how far the group have come.”

And in sealing the points against the Dolphins, the Avenue manager believes his side have proven they can now compete with the big boys in the Evo-Stik Southern Premier Division.

He added: “After the Corby game and this game, we have more than matched the teams at the top of the league.”