Tatnam terminator Michael Walker has stirred a hornets’ nest ahead of Poole Town’s crunch showdown with Gosport Borough today.

The linchpin defender will lead the Dolphins as they bid to down Boro in the final of the Southern League Division One South & West play-offs (3pm).

And in an explosive interview, the 28-year-old scaffolder has lit the blue touch paper by goading Gosport boss Alex Pike and his star striker Justin Bennett.

Pike fired the first salvo when he said the FA would need to appoint a “strong” referee for the contest and also described the Poole crowd as “hostile”.

The Boro boss also said Hungerford – who Poole beat in the semi-final – would only have stood a chance of reaching the final if the Dolphins had “four men sent off and the other seven had an off day”.

Walker said: “What he says is just total rubbish sometimes.

“He thinks he is Alex Ferguson with his little mind games but we are not fazed by them. We know what he is like and we know what his team is like. His mind games don’t bother us. We will just go about our business and know what we have got to do.”

Poole booked their place in the final after edging past Hungerford on Tuesday – just 24 hours after former Andover, Eastleigh and AFC Totton striker Bennett had plundered his 41st goal of the season to see Boro topple Sholing in the first semi.

However, despite his exploits in front of goal, Walker insists keeping tabs on Bennett holds no fear and has also alleged the striker is on the verge of joining Conference South Dorchester Town.

Bennett netted when Boro beat Poole 2-1 at Privett Park in August but drew a rare blank when the Dolphins won 3-0 at Tatnam in January.

Walker added: “He didn’t get a sniff against us in January. He has done well but he doesn’t worry me and I am coming to get him. I am confident he won't get a sniff again on Monday.

“He is signing for Dorchester anyway. It will be his last game for Gosport so why is he going to be bothered?

“He has got his move and that will be it for him.

“Neither Bennett nor Steve Claridge hurt us here so, hopefully, it will be the same drill on Monday.

“It is going to be an entertaining game and I am sure they will be up for it but I just think we will have too much for them.

“All we will concern ourselves with is what we do and not what anyone else does.

“If we are set up as a unit and solid, I am sure we will take them.”