Another good day for the Dolphins as they completed a league double over Locks Heath. Poole Town have now stretched their league record to 7 matches unbeaten and this was also a fourth straight away win. The team was unchanged from that which beat Brading a week ago.

Poole started brightly and the first chance came on three minutes. Good work from Benssaouda saw the ball laid off for Reeks and his shot flew just wide of the post from fully 30 yards. Disaster struck on 8 minutes with something straight from the 'You've Been Framed' files! A simple backpass was completely missed by Paul Spillane allowing a Locks Heath player to walk the ball into an empty net. Despite this blow Poole always looked the better side and the win always looked the more likely result.

On 13 minutes Spillane made up for his error with a great double save - parrying a good long range effort and then blocking the shot from the rebound. Poole struggled to find any real openings but from the half hour mark they stepped up a gear. On 28 minutes good work from Matty White saw him deliver a great cross into the box. Benssaouda just beat the keeper to the ball but his goalbound header was hacked off the line by a Locks defender. Two minutes later and Paul Manning sprinted clear, chipped the keeper but saw his effort cleared off the line as well. Within another four minutes Poole were level. A great ball through saw Cornick race away only to be brought down by the keeper on the edge of the area. The referee awarded a penalty and the Locks keeper given a yellow card. Lee Manning struck home the penalty. With a couple of minutes to half time Spillane again pulled off a great save - getting down low to his left after a Locks free-kick was headed towards the bottom corner. The resulting corner saw another header hit the Poole bar and there was a little relief to head in all square at that point. Half-time: 1-1.

The second half was a different story. Both Cornick and Benssaouda tormented the Locks defence for the entire 45 minutes and were ably supported by excellent performances from Lee Manning, Matt White and, in particular, Darren Reeks in midfield. On 53 minutes Benssaouda produced more magic on the right and his cross was met by Lee Manning and his shot was pushed away for a corner. Two minutes Poole produced the move of the game. Benssaouda picked up the ball just inside the Locks half. As he dribbled forward he beat a defender and delivered a superb through ball for Cornick. As Benssaouda continued his run Cornick held the ball up and then squared it back to Benssaouda who buried it in the bottom right hand corner with a first time shot - a great goal.

On 65 minutes Spillane again used the wind to produce a big goal kick and as the ball bounced Benssaouda hit it first time - his lob beating the keeper but bouncing just wide of the post. A minute later and Benssaouda (again!) beat the defender and rolled the ball into the path of Cornick. Just 7 yards out Cornick somehow managed to balloon the ball over the bar when a goal seemed certain.

The chances kept coming. On 73 minutes Paul Manning delivered a pinpoint cross from the right and Benssaouda's header was tipped away for yet another corner. The final goal came in the 92nd minute - a freekick from the left was parried by the keeper and Cornick thumped the ball home inside the six yard box.

Poole: Spillane, Gater, Wood, Wright, Reeks, P. Manning, Woodward, White, Benssaouda, Cornick, L. Manning

Trophyman Cup News

With Horndean beating Locks Heath 1-0 on Saturday 17th January Poole Town will now face Horndean in the quarter-final at Tatnam on 11th February - 7.30pm kick-off.

Match Report Courtesy of Andy Starmore - www.pitchside.net

It’s official – Karim Benssaouda is back !

The prolific marksman grabbed a hat-trick for Poole Town in their 5-0 mauling of Brading, making it five goals now in his three games back, since his four month suspension finally came to an end.

Poole Town joint manager Paul Morrell is overjoyed with the return of their prolific hit-man, but stressed that the team effort has also been particularly good.

“Brading were poor, but we still had to get the job done, and we basically destroyed them in the first half,” said Morrell.

“We played some very good football and it was quite pleasing to watch. We produced some really good build-up play and we were right on our game.

“I know it’s an old phrase, but we’re taking every game as it comes and there’s nothing else we can do.

“Hopefully if we can keep grinding out results, we can climb back up the table, and start to put the pressure on a few of the clubs at the top.”

The Dolphins approach work was first class in the opening half and, when Carl Woodward raced down the left flank before delivering a good cross for Lee Manning, the midfielder headed home an opening goal, which had more of an air of inevitability about it.

Woodward produced another cross shortly after, and this time it was Benssaouda who was in the right place to nod his first of the afternoon past the Brading keeper.

Benssaouda added his second and the Dolphins third, before Lee Manning got on the scoresheet again, with a far post header to make it 4-0, and it wasn’t even half time.

Poole took their foot off the pedal after the break, but there was still time for the highlight of the afternoon, when Benssaouda completed his hat-trick with a superb shot on the turn, just to emphasise the striker is clearly back.

Poole: Spillane, Gater, Wood (Jackson), Wright, Reeks, P. Manning, Woodward, White (Muir), Benssaouda, Cornick (Woolfenden), L. Manning

Poole Town returned to the kind of form that saw them sitting at the top of the Hampshire Premier Division at the beginning of the season, when they became the first Poole side to overturn East Cowes Vics on the Island in a 3-2 success.

It could have been a much higher marginal victory, as they roared to a two goal lead after just ten minutes, and got a third ten minutes before the half time break.

It’s no coincidence that the sudden winning formula coincides with a certain return from suspension of one Karim Benssaouda.

The prolific marksman was out suspended for four months, and on his return, although it was only a penalty, he scored in the 1-1 draw with Ringwood last week.

Against the Isle of Wight side he opened the scoring for the Dolphins, and then provided two assists for goals two and three.

Joint Poole Town manager Dean Mooney though insists that Benssaouda is only 75 per cent fit, and that the performance against East Cowes was a team effort, not just about one player.

“I wouldn’t want to signal anyone out for praise, it was a good team performance,” said Mooney.

“It’s great to have Karim back in the side though, because he seems to give everyone a lift.

“We could have gone in four or five up at half time, and they wouldn’t have had anything to complain about.

“I thought the scoreline flattered them in the end.”

Benssaouda began his assault on the East Cowes goal in as early as the fifth minute, racing down the right flank, before cutting inside and curling a left foot effort round the keeper for 1-0.

Benssaouda was at it again in a ruthless start to the match, this time beating two defenders, before pulling the ball back for Matty White to tap in to double their lead.

The third Poole goal was as good as it gets.

James Guetling found Benssaouda with an exquisite 35 yard pass, which was followed by a chest down from the striker, into the path of Leigh Cornick, who volleyed a right foot beauty from 30 yards beyond the despairing dive of the East Cowes goalkeeper.

Three goals up at half time, and seemingly cruising - until the second half began.

Just one minute after the break, everyone stopped in the Poole penalty area and began to walk away when they thought the referee had blown his whistle for a foul on Neil Potter in the Dolphins goal.

To the amazement of everyone, including the East Cowes players themselves, the referee had actually pointed to the spot for a penalty to the Islanders.

The penalty was duly despatched, much to the disgust of joint manager Mooney.

Mooney said, “There was no appeals from them at all, and in my opinion, the referee has given the worst penalty decision I’ve seen in my life.”

There were further chances for the Dolphins to restore their three goal advantage, but it was the home side who got on the scoresheet again, in the last minute of the match.

Poole: Potter, Gater, Guetling, Wood, Hayfield (Reeks), P. Manning, Woodward, White, Benssaouda, Cornick, L. Manning

Poole started the game brightly enough and Matthew Hayfield in particular looked good in the midfield. Chances were few and far between in the first half as both midfields battled it out. Time and time again Benssaouda was caught offside - unfortunately a pattern which would carry on the entire match. With Ringwood employing spoiling and often dirty tactics, the tensions between the sides rose as the half wore on.

On 35 minutes Cornick broke through the offside trap and raced away towards goal. As the keeper advance Cornick neatly nipped the ball away and as he turned, the keeper literally put his arms around the Poole striker and dragged him down. Inevitably the referee had no option but to send the keeper off and award a penalty. The last time this happened against Ringwood their players managed to change the referee's mind and award a freekick the other way and sure enough all the visiting players set about their tedious protests led by the ever vocal Jason Lovell. With Ringwood now down to ten men Benssaouda stepped up and tucked away to maintain his personal record of scoring in five consecutive league matches this season. Poole left the field 1-0 up at half time against an under strength Ringwood - surely nothing could spoil the result? Half time: 1-0.

Unfortunately the Dolphins produced an awful second half display and credit to Ringwood for rolling up their sleeves in an effort to dig out a result. Despite Poole creating few chances in the second half the lead always looked comfortable but on 80 minutes a Ringwood freekick was met by a totally unmarked Lovell in the box and he applied the finish to give Ringwood a deserved draw.

The final ten minutes saw Poole hang on as Ringwood threatened to secure all three points and Poole fans finally left the ground in total shock as to how they managed to lose a one goal lead. Not good enough.

Poole: Spillane, Gater, Guetling, Wood, Robinson, Hayfield (Woolfenden), P. Manning (Trednem), Woodward, White, Benssaouda, Cornick (L. Manning)

Liss began the game in a far brighter mood than the Dolphins and it was really no surprise when they took the lead on just 8 minutes. The goal came from probably the sweetest move of the match. The ball was chested down and flicked superbly down the left hand wing. The winger latched on to the pass and delivered a great low cross into the near post where a Liss striker met the ball first time to place the ball past a helpless Spillane. It really was a great goal and Poole supporters feared another 'Liss' chapter (just 2 Poole wins in the previous 7 meetings!).

Poole hit back from the kickoff and within a minute the Liss keeper was at full stretch to turn a fierce volley over the bar for a corner. This was a rare Poole attack in the first half however and if anything it was Liss who continued to dominate the half, creating chances but failing to add to their score. Yet again the Poole side argued and bitched with each other in the first half and this encouraged Liss to play some good football. Half time: 0-1.

What a difference in the second half! At last the Poole team settled down, found some space and started to play some decent football. On 47 minutes a good move led to Cornick(?) being pulled down in the box. Lee Manning stepped forward to tuck the resulting penalty away and the Dolphins were level. Poole continued to press in the second half as they dominated possession and territory. Despite many corners and freekicks they were not able to break down a well organised Liss defence. With Liss the better side and Poole dominating the second half a draw was probably the right result on the day but with the top four sides all winning Poole need to secure three points in the re-arranged Ringwood match next Wednesday evening. A certain Mr Benssaouda may also have his say in that game as well.............

Poole: Spillane, Gater (P. Manning), Wood, Mooney, Robinson, Woodward, Reeks (Woolfenden), L. Manning, White (Muir), Jackson, Cornick