Poole Town 1 Stratford Town 2

Southern Premier League

26 March 2016

Stratford arrived at Poole with the worst form record in the league having lost 4 and drawn 2 of their last 6 games so Poole were odds on for 3 points, but in a truly nightmarish first half performance they failed to muster a single shot. Looking slow and devoid of ideas Poole played with the ball ponderously on the edge of Stratford's area until they lost it and had no presence in attack with Roberts again miscast in the centre forward position. Worse was to follow with Hutchings rooted to the spot and unable to save a centrally placed shot from distance. Stratford had four shots in the first half, Poole none.

In the second half Poole pressed forward and kept possession better but didn't create a clear chance until Burbidge surged into the box and was brought down. The Stratford keeper got a hand to Devlin's penalty but failed to keep it out. Three minutes later Stratford had their only attack of the second half and scored when Fagan beat Hutchings to a routine cross. After that Stratford pretty much dealt with the corners and long balls and Poole sink to 12th in the form table with Redditch rising to 4th. For the first time this season Poole are relying on others to drop points and a win at Weymouth looks essential.

Verdict 
The conditions were tricky but there was no excuse for this kind of performance. The better team won.

Star Player
No-one's performance would have rated more than 5/10 today but Jack Dickson at least made some enterprising runs and chased back.

Poole Town 5 Bedworth 0

Southern Premier League

19 March 2016

 

Commendably positive play from the dolphins saw them regain top spot on goal difference as a largely disorganised Bedworth were demolished. Sadly Whisken missed a good chance near the end which would have given me my 6-0 prediction score. So not quite the perfect day.

 

With Roberts and Burbidge slipping the defence to get off to the best start with 2 goals in 16 minutes things always looked comfortable for Poole although Bedworth looked lively occasionally and hit the bar in the first half. The dismissal of Bedworth’s Kavanah who prevented Baggie from making an attempt on goal, snuffed out any resistance, and although they battled on bravely it was always going to be a case of how many Poole could score. Lee and Holgate were pushed on for the second half with an eye on goal difference and both duly scored, Lee with a crisp shot from the edge of the area and Holgate making himself space in the box and rifling an unstoppable shot past the keeper. In between times, Roberts scored his second in a late tilt for the golden boot award.

 

Verdict:

There will be harder tests than this but Poole got the job done and got the goals needed to outstrip Redditch in that department. With Baggie, Lee and Holgate starting to gel with the rest of the team things look bright for the remainder of the season. Both Lee and Holgate took their goals well leading to a belief that we now have some serious firepower up front. Redditch have a chance to swap places at the top on Tuesday when they take on Frome at home. Poole will expect another 3 points on Saturday at home to Stratford who lie in 19th position having lost 11 away. Then on to El Jurassico part II. Be there or be square as they used to say.

 

Star Player:

Jamie Gleeson who controlled the midfield from the first whistle onwards, picking up the ball and playing intelligent and accurate passes to set up many attacks.

Leamington F.C. 1 Poole Town 0

Southern Premier League

12 March 2016

Poole lost this match by a deflected goal but Leamington  played well, particularly in the second half, outshooting Poole by a wide margin over the course of the match. A largish partisan crowd found their voice in the second half and lifted their team adding to the pressure on the Poole goal. Leamington's left winger was particularly effective and Tallack had to work hard to keep him in check. In spite of their dominance of possession brakes shots were either wide, high or saved and Poole had a few moments at the other end in the first half, notably Spetch's hard shot which the keeper clung on to.

In the second half just as it looked that Poole were ready to step up and go for the win with Holgate and Roberts coming on, Leamington scored after a period of pressure on the Poole goal. That changed the game and any ideas that Poole had of playing football went out of the window as for 30 minutes they desperately tried to put pressure on the Leamington goal. Brakes should have scored again but missed an open goal with Poole defenders committed to attack. There was also a huge amount of timewasting with the referee seemingly indifferent to that. Poole had a glorious chance to equalise just before the end but Brooks at full stretch from a right wing cross put the ball over the bar with the goal at his mercy. The Leamington keeper made a superb save from Devlin's deflected shot which could have rescued a point but in reality the points went to the better team on the day.

Star Player: Lewis Tallack
Always in the game and given a torrid time by the winger, he had to work incredibly hard throughout. Stuck to his task and was occasionally the last line of defence when defenders were pushed forward.

Verdict:
It was clear from the start that the points were more important than the performance for Poole and consequently they failed to play well. Leamington's target was a win and they pressed forward continuously showing they are one of the better teams in the league. Poole ceded control the game and the possession stats must have been strongly in favour of the home team. The goal was lucky in the end but came after a period of head tennis on the edge of the area where Poole should have got the ball away. This performance was nervy from Poole with players preferring to pump the ball forward rather than pass the opposition out of the game, but whatever demons exist in their heads they have to get them out and start playing the way they can. Burbidge was anonymous today, and when that happens Poole usually fail to prosper. New boy Baggie looked like a superb addition to the team in the small cameo he played.

Poole Town 3 Histon 0

Southern Premier League

5 March 2016

In the second minute Luke Burbidge cut in from the right taking defenders by surprise and slotted the ball past the hapless Histon keeper and Poole were on their way to a routine win. With goal difference increasingly looking like an extra point it was important to emphasise their superiority. They could have added more goals but had to be content with a freak second goal as Tony Lee's corner was punched into his own goal by Histon's no. 1.

After half time more chances went begging but Burbidge put the result beyond doubt in the 60th minute taking the ball coolly past the goalkeeper before side footing home. He had a great chance to get his hat trick but was robbed at the last moment. Histon posed no threat at all and look doomed to relegation as Frome pick up points.

Verdict: Not a great spectacle and too many goal scoring chances are still not being converted but Weymouth did Poole a favour by beating Redditch and you can't get any more that 3 points. There is clear water at the top of the table again but Redditch play in midweek and Leamington away next Saturday will be testing.

Star Player: Luke Burbidge. Defenders couldn't handle him today and he took both goals well.

Redditch United 0 Poole Town 0

Southern Premier League 

1 March 2016

Attendance 501

Poole increase their lead at the top of the table thanks to defeat for Chippenham and keeping Redditch from scoring. Redditch would have gone top on goal difference with a win having played level games.

Cirencester 3 Poole Town 0

Southern League Premier Division

 27 February 2016

Poole's season continues to mimic 'The strange case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde' as a superb performance against Hitchin was followed by a frightful display. Poole failed to control the game from the start, pumping the ball forward rather than passing and eventually giving control to Cirencester. The Centurians started the match in awe of the league leaders but after 15 minutes realised they had little to fear and, gaining in confidence started to press forward. A skillfully worked move after 20 minutes left the dolphins defence flat footed and another 'slicing through butter' moment just before half time saw the score at 2 - 0. At the other end Lee was causing anxious moments for defenders with his robust challenges and Brooks missed a good opportunity with his head, but Burbidge was neutralised and there was little threat.

Away supporters were looking for a better performance in the second half. The hope lasted for 2 minutes before Cirencester scored a third and the game was effectively over. After that point it was a long wait to go home and a fitting finale was Poole's tame penalty easily saved.

Star Player: Not today

Verdict: It would have been difficult to match the midweek performance against Hitchin and the energy levels of that match were just not in evidence. Several players looked very tired and that led to inaccurate passing and tired thinking. There was no attempt to keep control of the ball for periods of time and little creativity. Cirencester were worthy winners by this margin.