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.