Poole Town 1 Bishops Stortford 0

Vanarama National League South

13 August 2016

Two 1 - 0 home wins have given the dolphins a firm foothold in the league and the two have been very similar in shape with Gillespie scoring an early goal and then keeping it tight at the back to secure the points. The early exchanges were all about Poole pressing forward as they had on Tuesday. The Stortford defence didn't get tight enough or close down early enough and the goal had been coming for some minutes when Gillespie skilfully deflected a fierce shot from Baggie in to the net. That did seem to shock the opposition into action and they created a few good chances at the other end. More clinical finishing such as Ebbsfleet showed would have ensured a much more difficult game for dolphins. However, it was mostly Poole and Roberts forced the Stortford keeper to tip a good effort on to the bar.


After half time the match turned and Poole had to rebuff some heavy pressure from the opposition, often struggling to get out of their own half. Again Stortford created chances which should have been put away but dolphins' luck held out. At the other end not much was being created but when Wort and Gleeson were introduced the energy levels went up and the team worked hard for each other.


Six points from 3 games is a great return for Poole and it is great to see the positive vibe all around the club. Weston are top of the league with a perfect record and the visit next Tuesday will be a real test. It will be interesting to see the line up when Walker returns with Spetch and Whiskin playing so well as a pair at the centre of the defence.


Star Player: For the second match in succession, Lewis Lindsay could not be faulted for an energetic and effective performance at full back.

Poole Town 1 Maidenhead United 0

Vanarama National League South

9 August 2016

As TK said, no-one looks at the table at this time of year. Except me. We are a very respectable 13th with 3 teams already having 0 points from 2 games. More importantly this was our first win in this league - indeed a historic moment. It came courtesy of a Richard Gillespie crisp low finish from a perfectly placed cross from Luke Roberts after 15 minutes. RG looks class at this level and hopfully is now fully ensconsed in cotton wool having been taken off after 65 minutes.

The match itself was so different to Saturday with none of the first night nerves and plenty of can do attitude from the start. A very attacking line up was positive on the ball with lots of energy from supporting players to get into positions that were dangerous and with everyone making yards with the ball. There were warning signs that Maidenhead too were classier than the teams Poole had been used to last season. MU had big dominant players and were a real threat from crosses in the first half. They held their own for a while and will be disappointed that they didn't make anything of their superiority in the air. Poole were hanging on a bit as half time approached but were anything but naive in eating up the time (Devs).

In the second half Poole achieved dominance. Maidenhead threw substitutes on, then threw players forward with little effect but did create enough dangerous moments for the spectators to realise that it was only 1 - 0 and that could change in an instant. Poole failed to put the game to bed when it was probable that they would as Maidenhead left gaps at the back. Substitutes Burbidge and Grainger both found themselves running on to balls but were unable to convert and Wort hit the post with a delicate shot past the keeper. But this was a night for total celebration as the points were won in style in front of a decent Tuesday night crowd of over 500.

Star Player: Lewis Lindsay who ran and ran chasing everything down and making some enterprising runs forward. A mention as well for Lee Wort playing mainly on the right and getting through a tremendous amount of work.

Ebbsfleet United 4 Poole Town 0

Vanarama National League South

6 August 2016

It couldn't have been a tougher opening fixture than having to go to last year's play off finalists before the feet were under the proverbial vanarama table. But on a scorching hot day in front of a crowd of over 1,000 (one of them very passionate indeed) the dolphins were asked to keep it tight at the back and give them something to think about at the other end. All went spiffingly well for 10 minutes until a loose ball after pressure was rifled home spectacularly from the edge of the area. A bit of a surprise, certainly for the dolphins defence. At the other end Roberts ran and shot well from the left and Brooks had a glorious chance to score from a header. Brooks was injured in a clash with a defender and Wort came on to replace him and he also had a good chance to score. With Baggie looking lively on the ball it looked as thought Poole might do ok although defenders were under constant pressure as the half came to an end.

The half time sprinklers entertained the crowd as they danced across the pitch but within a few minutes of the restart Ebbsfleet attackers were dancing in delight as they went two up and from then on it became how many they were going to score. In the end it was four and all the goals demonstrated the lessons that have to be learnt if Poole are to compete at this level. All were quick incisive moves with a deadly finish when defenders were just not at the races. There weren't many shots or passes wasted by Ebbsfleet and at times there did look a gulf between the teams. Poole visibly tired and Ebbsfleet looked fitter and stronger as the game went on.

So Poole find themselves at the bottom of the league after the first round of matches but it will take 5 or 6 games to see where they are in the pecking order in this league. We can't set our sights too high and there will be other games like this which are tough but there will be other games which should yield points (Hungerford). An intriguing season is guaranteed.

Star Player: Abdulai Bell-Baggie: The few attacks that Poole were able to make were usually instigated by him and he showed a few tricks and won some free kicks that could have led to something. He also tracked back to cover on the left effectively.

Hitchin Town 0 Poole Town 0

Southern Premier League

9 April 2016

A crowd of 712 saw an eventful game but no goals as Poole edged towards the title and Hitchin towards the play offs. A tense game which could have gone either way was overshadowed by the referee who in the second half sent off two Poole players and awarded a penalty to the home team. The penalty incident was unclear from the other end and saw Michael Walker dismissed for handball in the area after a number of Hitchin shots were desperately defended. Walker seemed to be on the ground sliding for the ball and disputed the decision but if it was deliberate handball then the red card was logical. The penalty was not the best but Hutchings guessed correctly and dived low to his right to make a spectacular save.

Devlin having picked up a yellow was tripped near the touchline in beating a player and got up immediately only to be shown a second yellow for simulation. The reaction was bemusement and although I rarely comment on referees the decision was bizarre. Hitchin's Walster was red carded in injury time for an over the top tackle on Pettifer.

After the sendings off Poole more than held their own and Brooks could have scored with a header which the Hitchin keeper did well to get to low down near the post. Hitchin hit the bar near the end with a speculative shot from distance.

Verdict:
Both teams put in plenty of effort but in the end both knew that a point was ok in the circumstances. Luke Roberts looked the most likely creator of Poole goals but wasn't in the game enough to make a real difference. The game changed when Gillespie came on and there was real hope that Poole might win it but that didn't last long as the red cards dominated the game and spoilt the finale. Hitchin played better at Poole than at home but in both games just didn't have a cutting edge. It is difficult to see them prospering in the play offs if they make it.

Star Player:
Everyone played well but it has to be Nick Hutchings who earned the point with the penalty save and never looked like being beaten.

Paulton Rovers 0 Poole Town 4

Southern Premier League 

5 April 2016

Paulton 0 Poole 4

Poole Town 3 Chesham Utd 0

Southern Premier League

2 April 2016

This was an easy win against the team lying second in the form table. Two headed goals from Brooks in the first half saw no real response and the Dolphins wrapped up the points with a Roberts goal in the second half after Brooks again beat the central defender in the air. In the first half Burbidge took the ball from a long way out and weaved his way through a wall of players only to go down in the box when scoring looked likely. The referee correctly didn't give a penalty. As always second half substitutions distrupted the flow of play but Devlin and Burbidge will be fresher for Tuesday night at Paulton.

Verdict:
The difference today was that the Chesham defence were unable to cope with the aerial threat of Brooks. Once they were demoralised by that they couldn't string anything together that looked like a potent threat. Dolphins are back on track and a good result against Paulton will set up a massive 6 pointer at Hitchin on Saturday.

Star Player:
Marvin Brooks; just recently has been missing with unmarked headers in the box but Monday's goal and the two today showed that he is back to his best form at exactly the right time.

Weymouth 0 Poole Town 1

Southern Premier League

28 March 2016

Attendance 1205

Poole won this match with a Marvin Brooks headed goal and had little trouble in preventing Weymouth from making an impression. A couple of snap shots late in the game were all they could muster and Hutchings was called on to make a smart save. In the first half the referee brandished some yellows which caused Lindsay to be substituted. Appeals were made for Walker to be sent off after a foul on the edge of the area but they were waved away by the referee.

Verdict:
An essential win after Saturday's unexpected home reverse.