Kettering Town 1 Poole Town 0

Southern Premier League

29 November 2015

In a very hostile crowd atmosphere and in difficult pitch and weather conditions the two teams battled to produce an interesting and competititve game which Poole lost by the only goal. There were few chances in the game with Burbidge and Dickson both having quiet games on the boggy wings in contrast to Kettering's recent signing Wilson Carvalho whose name rang out from Kettering's support after the match. Kettering look like a team which is going places now, whether this season or next remains to be seen. 

Early on in the match Devlin was put through with only the keeper to beat but the Kettering keeper managed to smother the shot. After that Poole were pretty much pinned in their own half during the first period but defended well until Kettering won a penalty as Hutchings brought down the forward with the ball spinning loose in the area. In the circumstances the keeper may have been fortunate to receive a yellow rather than a red card. In the arguments another couple of yellows were issued to Poole players. Hutchings superb save to his left from the penalty quietened the crowd for a bit but didn't add anything to his popularity with them. A 0 - 0 score at half time left the match well balanced but the second half was delayed whilst replacement referees assistant was sought and there was a concern that the game might have to be abandoned with more rain lashing down and the referee having a look at the pitch.

The emergence of the players after half time was greeted with ironic cheers and Poole were more dominant trying to get Burbidge on the ball more. Some great defending denied Brooks a clear shot on goal. When the goal came it was from a Poole error with the ball being lost outside the area and Carvalho shooting past Hutchings probably aided by a deflection. Poole lost their composure after that and in the conditions couldn't produce very much. In the end Kettering should have won by more as their forwards sqaundered at least 2 good chances but it was Roberts who had a fantastic chance to equalise when substitute Holmes broke clear on the right and pulled the ball back to the penalty spot but he couldn't turn the ball in.

My star player for Poole today was Will Spetch. Looking like a natural centre back he was dominant in difficult conditions and looked to distribute the ball to make progress.

Histon 0 Poole Town 7

Southern Premier League

24 November 2015

Dickson 2
Devlin 10 (pen)
Burbidge 12
Devlin 15 (pen)
Trotman 17 (og)
Holmes T 57
Holmes T 90

Poole Town 3 St Neots Town 0

Southern Premier League

21 November 2015

A motivated Poole side easily brushed aside a St Neots team which lived up to their mid table position. From the start it seemed that it was only a question of how many Poole would win by as they took a very early lead when Will Spetch and Lewis Lindsay converged on a loose ball in the area. Hutchings made a good double save shortly afterwards and a goal for St Neots then might have changed the game, but they were never really able to create anything much after that. Again and again Burbage beat men on the right but cut backs were not converted as last ditch defending came between shots and the goal. Poole came close twice with Devlin hitting the post from a free kick and Pettifer at full stretch just failing to control a Roberts cross.

Any thoughts of a St Neots second half comeback was quickly dispelled as Poole came out determined to remain dominant and it wan't a surprise when Burbidge slotted a low shot through a crowd of players into the corner of the net. Walker then played a clever one two with a defender before tapping the ball past the keeper very much in the manner of Neymar. At 3 - 0 up Poole had the chance to give younsters Holmes and Salama some game time and the match was played out with Poole still on top.

My star player today was Lewis Tallack who was energetic in both halves and always looking for a positive outcome. He linked up with Burbidge and Pettifer well ecouraging the many attacks that came from the right today. His defending as ever was excellent.

Chippenham Town 0 Poole Town 1

Southern League Premier Division

17 November 2015

Poole performed well in very windy conditions to win a well contested match with a superbly worked goal in the first half. Pettifer, Brooks and Devlin were involved in the build up with neat crisp passing and Dickson cut inside and finished perfectly. Poole had the benefit of the strong gusting wind in the first half and the slope which made it difficult for the blues to make forward progress but when they played on the ground they did make some incisive plays. With half time reached at 0 - 1 it was clear that Poole literally had an uphill battle in the second half and that Chippenham thought a win was on the cards.

As Chippenham threw everything forwards Hutchings in goal kept a cool head to make several crucial saves and take the heat out of the game when he had the opportunity. There was controversy when a Chippenham goal after a scramble was ruled offside but it was Poole who came closest to scoring again when on a rare break Will Spetch hit the post with a fierce left foot drive.

I thought this was a really good performance from Poole with plenty of discipline and intelligence shown to keep on top of the conditions and a lively Chippenham team. Dickson was always available for the out ball and caused problems throughout the match for defenders. His exquisite goal showed what an emerging talent he is and he was my star player.

Poole Town 2 Cambridge City 1

Southern Premier League

14 November 2015

Poole gained the 3 points with a display which threatened dominance and derailment at the same time but in the end was neither. In the first half plenty of time was spent in the Cambridge half but chances were not converted. It was a relief when Roberts who has a knack of turning up in the right place at the right time turned on a ball in the area and converted well. As we waited for more goals to come Devlin turned inside and struck a fabulous shot beyond the keeper but saw it hit the frame of the goal. Half time was reached with the score at 1 - 0, scant reward for a good performance with Cambridge having a few shots but not really threatening with Tallack and Lindsay having good games.

A game which ought to have been closed out in the first half was brought to life as Cambridge pressed forward and equalised and if Cambridge had had any more about them the game might have been more difficult. Under heavy pressure from Roberts Poole's second came when a low cross was deflected into his own net by a defender. Brooks missed a sitter for the second week in a row when unmarked in the area he directed his header past the post. The game was played out without further drama to a satisfactory result.

Poole have played better than this but the three points were important to get the league campaign back on track and this result took Poole to the top of the league. Not taking chances is still a concern and seems to make things more difficult than they should be because teams which should be played off the park still have an interest in the game in the later stages. The conditions weren't ideal but the pitch played ok and the second half saw the fierce wind and rain subside.

My star player today was Steve Devlin. Of late he has been playing deep but in this game got forward enough times to shoot and create a real threat to the opposition goal. He was energetic getting back as well as forward and showed good distribution of the ball.

Dunstable Town 1 Poole Town 1

Southern Premier League

7 November 2015

This was a match dominated by the seriously windy conditions with Poole playing against the wind in the first half which made it difficult to move the ball forward quickly. Dunstable started strongly and scored an early goal with the Poole defence in disarray after Roberts was clearly fouled in the build up. Dunstable's forwards had two chances of shots on goal, the first was defended but the second went in low out of Hutchins' reach. With Dunstable having something to defend they were intent on doing that and although they never really provided an attaching threat were relentless in pressing and chasing the ball down effectively. Poole at times didn't play intelligently against the wind with a number of free kicks launched in the air and falling short of the target.

The second half was always going to be easier with Dunstable now struggling against the wind. Poole came out with renewed determination and Brooks and Devlin played with urgency and pace. Brooks looked dominant in the air and the most likely to score and should have done so with a free header in the area. Devlin put a corner on to the top of the bar and pressure bagan to mount. White wriggled free in the box and put the ball past the keeper only to see it spectacularly cleared off the line. Whether the whole ball crossed the line is debatable but it was one where the referee probably had to give the benefit of doubt to the defender. As time was running out Dunstable defended superbly to keep Poole out including a couple of excellent saves from the keeper, but eventually dolphins created unstoppable pressure with Walker playing up front and Hutchings coming forward for a corner. With Dunstable unable to clear the ball and shots raining in eventually the ball fell to Burbidge who coolly found the top corner, probably the only spot that would have resulted in a goal.

My star player today was Michael Walker. From the start of the second half he drove the team forward, eventually playing up front himself to try to make somthing happen. It was sheer willpower that got a point from the match. Superb leadership.

I don't often comment on referees because mistakes happen but this one was all over the place in the first half and I thought the Poole players did well not to be more forthright with their comments. The referee's decision not to award a free kick to Poole in the build up to the goal was pivotal and cost Poole victory. To me the foul was as clear as you can get with Roberts being injured by the hard and reckless lunge. 

Merthyr Town 1 Poole Town 0

FA Trophy 1Q

31 October 2015

A disappointing end to a lovely day in Wales set against the backdrop of rolling hills and sunshine with Poole holding their own until the last quarter but then conceding a soft goal to go out of a competition they have never prospered in. The game as a whole lacked quality from both sides and we spent 90 minutes waiting for someone to take it by the scruff of the neck. There was plenty of huffing and puffing and commitment in challenges but the small crowd witnessed a dull midfield battle for most of the match. Whether this was contributed to by the artificail pitch I'm not sure but the ball did seem to run on when otherwise it would hold up in the grass making it more difficult for the players to get control of it.

In the first half there was little in the way of attacking play from Merthyr, and Poole started brightly. Roberts could have done better with a free header in the box which the keeper gathered easily and the game was punctuated with fouls and yellows for both teams. Merthyr did get the ball in the net from a free kick but it was ruled offside. The staggeringly low shot count of 2 to Merthyr and 3 to Poole indicates the lack of attacking creativity from both teams.

More of the same followed in the second half with Poole pressing better but picking up yellows for Lindsay and Spetch. Poole nearly took the lead when a free kick fell to White whose shot was deflected on to the post but nothing came of the corner. With Merthyr upping the effort in the last quarter a cross was cleanly headed into the net unchallenged at the far post for the winning goal. Dickson and Holmes entered the fray but couldn't change things although Holmes burst through on a ball which the Merthyr defender just managed to shepherd past the post.

This was a game which I am sure we could have won comfortably but we particularly missed Devlin with Lindsay looking lost in midfield. For me Roberts doesn't look as effective in a central role and we have all seen what Gillespie gives us when he is fit. It does seem that when players are missing we have a thin squad and the consequence of that is that we may have to take defeats like this more often that we would like which may well jeapordise the promotion push.