Merthyr 1 Poole 1

Southern Premier League

23 January 2016

With storm clouds on the horizon promising rain but with bright sunlight gleaming off the artificial surface, the Merthyr coach in bright green boots created quite a stir amongst the home fans before the match.

I should say straight away that this was a great game to watch, with Merthyr going for it from the off and McLaggon and Reffell showing outstanding touches and speed up front to give the Poole defence real difficulties. Although Roberts had a shot over the bar, it was Merthyr who looked more likely to score coming close several times, and when Walker headed away from a free kick it bounced off Reffell into the net with Hutchings stranded. After Whiskin picked up a yellow, Spetch should have scored with a free header in the box but headed straight at the keeper. From that moment it seemed that he was determined to make up for the miss appearing in the box or on the edge at every possible opportunity (more later). Wort did good work powering into the box and taking the ball round the keeper only to see his shot from an acute angle kicked off the line by a defender. Spetch hit the post from a similar angle with a cross shot just before half time.

In the second half Poole set about putting pressure on the Merthyr defence which played superbly as a unit with Baggridge having an outstanding game. The introduction of Connell and Gillespie and rain had the desired effect eventually as Merthyr could no longer hold out. Connell placed a great ball across the area but Gillispie had not advanced far enough to reach it. Then a Burbidge corner was punched straight to Spetch who placed his header carefully over the keeper into the net to the delight of the several Poole fans who had made the trip. After the goal Merthyr regained the upper hand as Poole seemed to stand off having spent an enormous amount of energy to get the equaliser but the game remained open and either team looked capable of scoring. Neither did as the referee called time on an entertaining match.

Star Player
Luke Burbidge: Back to his best on the wing created lots of opportunities in the second half and hit the bar with a great shot. Created the pressure that led to the equaliser.


Verdict
Merthyr remain in 16th place having lost 13 games but are another team that seemingly raise their game when they play the leaders. This was one they were determined not to lose and defended well. Forward Kayne McLaggon who started his career at Southampton looks very able to play at a higher level and new striking partner Keyon Reffell has a superb first touch. Together they look like they could make things happen for Merthyr.

Poole started slowly and Merthyr deservedly took the lead. Once they had got over that they had plenty of possession but never gave up and forced the equaliser near the end. The game was very open and end to end at times so there was plenty to interest both sets of spectators. Poole's lead is cut to 2 points with difficult games to come but who said it would be easy?

Poole Town 1 Kings Lynn 1

Southern Premier League

16 January 2016

Superhero Richard Gillespie donned his cape to save a match slipping away from the league leaders with a well taken opportunist goal with 10 minutes left. Up till that point the dolphins had toiled without reward to claw back the linnets lead given away by sloppy defending in the first half.

It all started well with a Devlin free kick being well saved by the Lynn keeper and then shooting just over the bar. The Kings Lynn players were vocal in complaining to the referee about every challenge which seemed to contribute to a spate of yellow cards for the home team. Devlin and Walker were booked but Tallack was lucky to escape. Kings Lynn looked lively in attack but no real threat when a free kick on the corner of the box was headed in by an unmarked player. Dickson received a yellow. The telling statistic of the first half was that Kings Lynn became the first team of the season to have more shots than Poole, the tally being 3 - 7 as Wort ploughed a largely unsupported furrow up front.

The second half saw Poole toiling against a well drilled Lynn defence who largely negated the threat from Burbidge with plenty of cover on their left side. Spetch was sacrificed for Roberts with Dickson being moved to left back and then Gillespie came on for Dickson and the assault began. The difference was immediate and electric as Burbage twisted and turned crossing low just beyond Gillespie's reach for what would have been a certain goal. A few seconds later Gillespie scored with his first touch as the Lynn central defender failed to deal with a awkwardly bouncing ball. Meat and drink to RG who coolly slotted through the keeper's legs for the equaliser. Unfortunately Poole had run out of time to get the winner. Devlin slammed a blockbuster against the bar and there were a few scrambles in the Lynn area towards the final whistle but the linnets held on for a deserved point.

Star Player
Richard Gillespie - what an impact!

Verdict
Kings Lynn played well and did in the away match as well. They are in touch with the play offs and could make it if they can achieve some consistency. I was impressed with their defending. Poole gave away a goal through poor defending and it isn't the first time this season that an unmarked player has scored from a header inside the box. In this match as in so many where points were lost, the team's true performance only seems to come out in the second half when really committing to attack. Nevertheless, I think this was a good point well dug out. At this stage of the season with Poole in pole position it is important not to lose and make other teams do the work to catch up.

Frome Town 0 Poole Town 0

Southern Premier League

26 December 2015

The league table doesn't lie and Poole were faced with a Frome team that lacked any sort of threat up front and whose sole ambition was to stop Poole scoring. The fact that Poole didn't score was solely down to incompetence in front of goal and lack of creativity. The conditions played a big part in a dreadful game but the reality was that Poole again should have been two or three up in the first 15 minutes, hitting the post and the bar and forcing two great saves from the Robins' keeper.

After that a familiar pattern emerged with Poole snuffing out most things coming at them in midfield and pressing forward only to see most efforts break up on the edge of the box. It wasn't really a day for pretty football and Burbidge and Dickson hardly got involved in the game so most threats were coming from set pieces. Frome found it relatively easy to defend the predictability and reached half time safely at 0 - 0.

We hoped for some festive cheer in the second half and you couldn't fault Poole for effort but they just didn't have the guile to beat the defenders. As the half wore on Frome gained confidence and mounted a few lightening attacks which got the crowd behind the goal excited but were dealt with well by the Poole defence. When Gillespie came on it was immediately obvious what was missing. He ran on to a ball over the top and won it against heavy pressure from a defender. Shooting early from the edge of the area he beat the keeper but saw the ball hit the far post and bounce away harmlessly.

This was a game best forgotten quickly for a number of reasons. I go to many away matches, some are good places to go and some not so good but I can honestly say that Frome is the place that I look forward to going to least. If you go to football matches you expect to hear supporters being passionate about their team, decisions etc. It is all part of the game. However the level of abuse that the home support gives away supporters is just unacceptable and unecessary. Probably as ever a few people but it does make it a very unpleasant experience and I wouldn't recommend anyone to go there.

Poole Town 3 Slough Town 3

Southern Premier League

19 December 2015

A languid performance by Poole saw them gift 3 goals to Slough and draw a high scoring game they should have won at a canter. At 2 - 0 it seemed a case of how many Poole could score but with the Rebels at their mercy and threatening nothing in attack, defenders failed to react to a quick break and the extra man at the far post easily slotted past Hutchings to make the score 2 - 1 at half time. Poole had earned their lead when Wort charged down the keeper and the ball fell to Dickson a fair way out who passed the ball into the net with considerable skill. Slough were all over the place at the back and Poole looked like scoring from every corner and Spetch did, heading in when unchallenged on the penalty spot.

More poor defending allowed Slough to equalise through Jepson in the 57th minute but Wort again proved strong in challenging the keeper and scored himself when the ball broke kindly for him. At 3 - 2 it was probably time to take stock and consolidate but Slough had been given a sniff and more terrible defending led to the equaliser with a couple of minutes to go with Hallahan again on hand to punish a weak defensive header. Slough came closest to winning the match but a dangerous low cross flashed across the Poole area without an attacker getting a touch.

I imagine that strong words were said in the dressing room after the match as this was just a case of complacency and lack of focus in complete contrast to some of the performances we have seen recently. Lewis Lindsay unfortunately again looked lost in midfield but the problem that the manager has is trying to fit 3 centre backs into 2 roles. A rethink seems necessary.

Star Player: I couldn't really pick anyone today although Jack Dickson played well in the first half and took the goal beautifully. Lee Wort also had a solid game.

Poole are still 12 points clear at the top albeit with more games played and this blip shouldn't make much of a difference at the end of the season especially with teams around them dropping points. Things are still looking good and so its onwards at home to Hitchin and away to Frome with a 6 points to prove.

Bedworth Utd 0 Poole Town 2

Southern Premier League

12 December 2015

Another very windy game with Poole playing with the benefit in the first half and working hard to be 1 up at half time. Roberts and Wort both had shots saved and Spetch took a pot shot from a long way out which sailed just over the bar. Bedworth failed to clear a corner and Brooks stabbed in a low cross to give Poole the lead at half time.

In the second half Poole rarely got out of their half because of the wind and their determination to hang on to the lead. Whilst Bedworth spent a lot of time in the Poole half and had a couple of shots, they never looked to have the bite to come back. When Poole scored the second with Wort getting his first goal for the club the game was over as a contest and nothing else really happened.

So not a thrilling game but all wins gain 3 points and this was a professional performance from Poole. On this showing you would fear that Bedworth don't have enough to  get out of the bottom four without an injection of players and a different attitude. The artificial pitch played better than Merthyr's earlier in the season and caused no real problems.

My star player today was Marvin Brooks. He got up from an early injury to get the vital first goal scoring for the second week in a row and was involved in most of Poole's attacking play.

Poole Town 0 Hungerford Town 0

Southern Premier League

8 December 2015

This was a hard fought encounter between 2 teams at the top of the table and in the end Poole did well to secure a point at Tatnam against a Hungerford side which outplayed them on the night. Poole retain their significant lead at the top of the table and Hungerford must have been disappointed not to make ground on the leaders.

From the off Hungerford played a tight pressing game and had an early chance headed over the bar whilst Poole played a predictable building game but still created a couple of half chances. As the half wore on Poole were made to look second best and Hungerford ended it well on top but with few chances to show for it thanks to some good defending.

The second half saw Hungerford grow in confidence and Hutchings was forced into a couple of superb saves to deny Hungerford the win. At the other end I can't remember the Hungerford keeper having to make a save.

So, the jury is still out on loanee Lee Wort. He looks a decent target man but is yet to link in properly with Burbidge Brooks and Roberts to create danger in the opponents box. Jack Dickson playing at left back had a good game in defence but with Roberts anonymous on the left wing Poole missed his guile going forward. Walker was brought on and Dickson pushed forward but it was too late to have any effect. I have to give credit to Hungerford though for putting in one of the best performances of the season against Poole.

However, even if you are at the top of the table you can't win every game and it isn't winning 7 - 0 at Histon that wins the league it is grinding out results like this against the better teams.

My star player: Nick Hutchings because of those two saves.

Poole Town 1 Leamington Town 0

Southern Premier League

5 December 2015

Nicknamed 'The Brakes' Leamington arrived with high hopes but left the field with 9 men, no points and possibly a new nickname. 'The Lemmings' seemed more appropriate as they proceeded to throw themselves off a metaphorical cliff in this match.

Poole were completely dominant in the first quarter with new man Lee Wort looking lively up front. He failed to beat the keeper in a one on one but it was no surprise when Brooks headed in after 20 minutes, his first goal since 10 October. With Poole looking likely to score more the game was ended as a contest when Edwards picked up a yellow for a wild lunge on Roberts and then stupidly kicked out at Devlin in front of the referee and had to take an early spa.Thereafter it became fairly routine for Poole but there wasn't much threat to the goal before half time.

Leamington upped their effort in the second half but it remained comfortable for Poole and a penalty was won as a defender charged down a shot with his hands. The sending off seemed harsh as he was so close to the ball when it was struck but the referee was in a perfect position to see what happened. Devlin missed the penalty - a showy save low to the keeper's left but in reality a nice height and speed to save if you guessed correctly. After that Wort played a nice one two but shot wide and Tallack found himself in the area but his shot was smothered. As the game neared the end everyone was conscious that only one goal up meant that Poole were vulnerable to an equaliser but with 9 men Leamington couldn't really put Poole under any pressure.

My star player today was Carl Pettifer. Although this was one of his easier games due to the lack of opposition in midfield, he controlled the whole game from the centre spraying good passes to either side and defensively made sure there were no slip ups.