Darren Elmes and Darren Mooney returned to the side for the tricky game at Lymington but Gary Fletcher failed a fitness test just prior to kick-off. Max Crowe also made a welcome return to right wing back and this allowed Garry Morris to push into midfield.

The match started fairly evenly with neither side exerting any worthwhile pressure in the opening minutes. The first decent chance came on 8 minutes when Benssaouda and Holland combined to deliver the ball to Morris but his shot was dragged wide of the left hand post. On 20 minutes Poole took the lead after a huge goal mouth scramble. Shots flew in one after the other before the Lymington No. 2 handled on the line. Despite Elmes thumping in the rebound the referee awarded a penalty and sent off the offending player. Benssaouda scored from the spot. Poole took control of the first half from this point but failed to add to their tally. Half-time: 0-1.

The second half proved to be very disappointing for Poole supporters. Jamie Holland picked up a knock and was replaced by Milan Parodi on 60 minutes. Five minutes later and Lymington were level. A corner from the right was dropped by keeper Elliot and the ball rolled into the net. Against ten men Poole continued to underachieve and the confidence in Lymington grew as the half progressed. On 90 minutes it looked all up for the Dolphins as Neal Spalding pulled a home player down in the box and Lymington took the lead from the spot. However, the referee inexplicably played a total of 8 minutes of injury time (from where?) and Poole grabbed an undeserved equaliser in the 97th minute when Gary Morris hooked a Benssaouda corner past a gaggle of players into the net. The final whistle was met by consternation from the Lymington bench and supporters and nobody can really blame them. They had battled really well with ten men and deserved the three points. Poole on the other hand left the field feeling lucky to have secured a single point. Disappointing.

Poole: Elliot, Woodward, Crowe, Spalding, Wright, Mundee, G. Morris, D. Mooney, Elmes, Holland (Parodi), Benssaouda
Unused subs: Roberts, M. Morris

Tonight's Trophyman Third Round Cup game at Stockbridge has been postponed due to waterlogged pitch.

Two other rearranged fixtures - Poole Town now travel to AFC Aldermaston on Saturday 1st February and we are at home to Pirelli General on Wednesday 5th February.

With no Gary Fletcher, Darren Mooney, Matty Homer or Darren Elmes in midfield the trip to Hythe & Dibden saw the return of Matt Morris, Danny Neville, Andre Neville and Ben Wright to the side.

No full match report is available but the key moments were as follows:-

First half was fairly poor with Poole struggling to find any form after the two week lay-off since the Winchester City match.
34 mins - Hythe took the lead after a goalmouth scramble.

Half-time: 1-0.

55 mins - New signing Paul Roberts replaced Danny Neville in the midfield.
57 mins - Karim Benssaouda produced another clinical finish to draw Poole level.
60 mins - Brian Mundee delivered a cross into the box and in the ensuing panic a Hythe defender headed past his own keeper to put Poole Town in front.

Poole played a bit better during the second half although Hythe rallied towards the end as they desperately sought out an equaliser. A late kick on Benssaouda towards the end of the match saw Hythe reduced to ten men.

Poole: Elliot, Woodward, A. Neville, Spalding, Wright, Mundee, G. Morris, M. Morris, D. Neville (Roberts), Holland, Benssaouda
Unused subs: Parodi, Rideout

Saturday's game away at Petersfield Town has been postponed. Instead, the Dolphins will travel to Hythe & Dibden in the Hampshire Premier League - kick-off 3.00pm

As expected the match at Bishops Waltham Town on Saturday 11th January has been postponed. Although their pitch is OK they are involved in a cup game with Fawley.

If Lymington & New MIlton's match is postponed tomorrow (likely) then there may be a friendly at Tatnam between the two sides. Kick-off is likely to be 1.30pm or 2.00pm  - ring the Poole Town Club Call on 09066 555884 after 10.30am tomorrow for more clarification.

After a string of good results in recent weeks Poole started the new year by taking on unbeaten Winchester City at Tatnam. Winchester's unbeaten league run stood at 28 games prior to this match - indeed their last league defeat came back on 12th March 2002 when the Dolphins won 1-0 at City.

Poole got off to the worst possible start when sloppy defending allowed the City striker to pass the ball into an empty net after just two minutes. After this wake-up call Poole battled back into the game although chances were few and far between against a very good defence indeed. On 30 minutes a superb Winchester through ball left the striker one on one with the keeper but Elliot did well to deflect the shot away with his outstretched boot. It took just five more minutes for City to extend their lead when some great dribbling in the Poole box drew all the defenders - the ball eventually squared for a simple tap-in.

On 39 minutes Darren Mooney picked up a yellow card and at this stage he was fortunate to not have been booked previously. On the stroke of half time Mooney again committed a foul in the middle of the pitch and after being warned by the referee (rightly) he turned and made a comment to the Poole bench which was clearly audible to everyone in the ground. The referee had no choice but to produce a second yellow card for dissent and Mooney was correctly, in my opinion, sent off. This was plain stupidity from the Poole midfielder and more than anything else he let down the rest of the players and all the Poole supporters as well. Taking on Winchester with eleven players is hard enough but facing the whole of the second half with ten men - the match as a contest ended at this point. Half-time: 0-2.

Poole's worst fears proved to be well grounded in the second half as City took total control of the game and taught the Dolphins a lesson in defending, attacking and clinical finishing. On 52 minutes a curling shot cannoned back off the Poole post but just three minutes later a corner was met with a free header to make the game safe. On 61 minutes skipper Neal Spalding conceded a penalty which was tucked away with ease. Poole briefly rallied and on 70 minutes produced their best chance of the game when a great run from Homer saw the ball to Benssaouda and his shot was well saved by the City keeper. On 75 minutes a cross from the left was missed by Ross Elliot and again City were left with a simple header to make the score 5-0.

Credit must go to City for producing a quality performance on the day against a Poole side who didn't do themselves credit at all. City's unbeaten league run continues and it is difficult to see how anyone in the Hampshire Premier League will end it. Well Done City!

Poole: Elliot, Woodward, G. Morris, Spalding, Atherton, Mundee (Fletcher), Homer (D. Neville), Elmes, Mooney, Holland, Benssaouda (J. Mooney)