Poole Town  1  V  1  Petersfield Town  -  Wessex League Division 2

After the cup exploits of midweek against Hamble Assc, Poole returned to league action with a home game to Petersfield Town. Carl Chivers replaced the injured Stuart Brown up front - the only change from the midweek team.

In a fairly even first half it was Poole who created the better chances.
Carl Chivers twice got free in the opening 10 minutes but both times his shots went wide of the post. After a slightly scrappy period Poole took the lead on the half hour mark. A freekick was awarded just outside the Petersfield box and as the crowd waited for a Funnell special he didn't disappoint - another superb strike which curled over the wall into the top left hand corner of the net. Half time: 1-0.

Poole completely controlled the second half and as in recent games they created chance after chance without killing off the game. Just two minutes into the second period Joe Collins produced a back heel which sent Chivers clean through. With the goal at his mercy however he delayed his shot for too long and the keeper was able to recover. On 58 minutes another Funnell corner was met by Lee Manning and his ferocious volley whistled just over the bar with the keeper beaten.

Anthony Warrington replaced Chivers on 75 minutes and supporters thought he had wrapped up the points on 90 minutes when his excellent shot produced an astounding save from the keeper who somehow managed to deflect the ball away for a corner. From the corner Taffy Richardson thundered in and his header was aiming for the top corner before a defender on the line managed to deflect the ball away for another corner.

With four minutes of injury time played (where did that come from?) the referee (less said the better all afternoon) awarded Petersfield a dubious freekick on the edge of the Poole box. A great strike saw the ball rebound back off the post and Fawcett for Petersfield was on hand to nod home an equaliser.

There is no doubt that Petersfield are one of the better sides to visit Tatnam this season but Poole supporters were left extremely frustrated at a draw after dominating for long periods of the game. The good thing is that the team are still playing well and creating chances.

Poole: Scriven, Spalding, Cornick, L. Manning, Bartlett, Woolfenden, White, Funnell, Richardson, Chivers (Warrington), Collins

Hamble ASSC  0  V  1  Poole Town  -  Wessex League Cup Quarter Final

The Dolphins continued their excellent away form with another clean sheet at Hamble which saw Poole knock out the Division 1 side and progress into the semi finals of the Wessex League Cup. In the last four Poole will face the winners of Winchester City V Thatcham Town.

As it turned out the match was settled in the first two minutes. In the opening minute Hamble broke clear and Scriven had to produce three consecutive point blank saves to keep the ball out. With their lines finally cleared Poole then broke straight down the other end and scored the only goal of the game. With several bodies in the box the ball eventually found it;s way into the corner of the net, possibly to be claimed by Joe Collins but there are other calls for it to be an own goal.

On 16 minutes a Poole cross from the left was missed by everyone and Brown's shot was deflected wide of the goal by the back of a defender's head as he was running back to defend. A minute later and Scriven was again called upon to make a smart save low to his right to concede a corner. Despite their lowly position in Division 1 Hamble were seriously up for the game and they showed no lack of effort when they got the ball.

On 22 minutes there was a brilliant interchange of passing between Bartlett and Collins and the final ball found Funnell unmarked in front of goal but his shot was scooped over the bar.

Stuart Brown raced away on 39 minutes but his fierce shot was well saved - being pushed round the post by the home keeper. From the resulting corner the ball dropped to Brown again and this time his half volley was deflected wide as it was heading for the corner of the net. Half time: 0-1.

Chances were few and far between in the second half as Poole defended well when required to record their fourth consecutive clean sheet. On 50 minutes Collins put Funnell through but the keeper again made a good stop at the feet of the Poole midfielder. A minute later and Neal Spalding met a Cornick cross but his header was tipped just wide of the post.

Poole comfortably saw out the rest of the game to move into the semi finals of the League Cup.

Poole: Scriven, Spalding, L Manning, Cornick, Bartlett, Funnell, White, Richardson, Woolfenden, Collins, Brown (Chivers)

Locks Heath  0  V  2  Poole Town  -  Wessex League Division 2

Poole Town made it nine wins and a draw from their last ten league games with a comfortable win away at high flying Locks Heath. With Petersfield also going down at home Poole have now opened up a gap in second place as they chase promotion to Wessex 1.

After a couple of run outs with the reserves Joe Collins made his much anticipated debut for the Dolphins and he looked strong and sharp up front as he scored the crucial goal to give Poole the lead.

The first 15 minutes of this match was pretty even as both sides tried to come to terms with the slippy conditions. Chances were few and far between with neither keeper troubled early on. Gradually though Poole took a grip of the game and once in control the result never looked in doubt.

On 29 minutes a great ball was flicked over the top and Stuart Brown raced through but his crisp volley was well parried by the keeper. On 34 minutes Jason Mountford left the pitch injured and Ryan Woolfenden made a welcome return to the side coming on in midfield with Lee Manning dropping back into defence (where he was excellent). Unfortunately the dreadful referee tried to ruin the game as much as possible and somehow managed to book Stuart Brown and Gary Funnell within seconds of each other when neither had committed a foul, let alone a bookable one. Locks Heath attempted to kick and foul Funnell at every opportunity for the rest of game and the referee kindly turned a blind eye to some quite serious challenges. Half time: 0-0.

The second half saw Poole camped in the Locks Heath half for long periods as they passed the ball around well with patience looking for the openings. Quite why the Locks Heath defence insisted on playing the ball around at the back as much as they did was mystifying as they proceeded to give the ball away time and time again on the edge of their box. On 53 minutes Poole broke the deadlock. Funnell was given far too much room in midfield and he brought the ball forward before firing a right foot shot from the edge of the area. The keeper could only palm the ball away to his right and Joe Collins nipped in to slide the ball home from an acute angle.

On 73 minutes the referee again got conned as the Locks heath number 5 crumpled to the floor squealing after Woolfenden had clearly beaten him to the ball. Of course, Woolfenden got booked and sure enough the number 5 was back running around within seconds - an amazing recovery. He then proceeded to make comments and gestures to Poole supporters which would probably have had more effect had his team been winning at the time. He capped an already woeful display when he slipped when trying to take a freekick and managed to knock the ball about two feet. Unable to take another touch he could only watch as Poole broke clear but was let off when the chance was wasted.

Another defensive mess was compounded by Locks Heath in injury time when keeper and defender both left the ball and Brown ran in to push the ball towards an empty net and then dived in the mud to head the ball along the ground for his 8th of the season.

Poole: Scriven, Spalding, Mountford (Woolfenden), Cornick, Bartlett, Funnell, White, Richardson, L. Manning, Collins (Chivers), Brown

Poole Town  4  V  0  Hythe & Dibden  -  Wessex League Division 2

A second consecutive home match meant that Poole could continue to push home their push for top two honours in the league. With the visit of Hythe & Dibden Tommy Killick was able to field the exact same starting eleven as midweek and the performance and result proved pretty much the same again as well.

From the start Poole were in control and very quickly the chances began to be created. On 4 minutes a Funnell cross from the left cannoned off Turner but luckily for Hythe the ball fell straight into the keeper's hands. Poole took the lead after just 7 minutes. Chivers played a ball through to Turner and after his shot came back off the post, Funnell was on hand to thump the ball home.

Carl Chivers produced some good skill on 25 minutes when he received the ball, spun well and his fierce shot was tipped on to the post and away for a corner. Seven minutes later and a Funnell corner was cleared out of the box but Gary Bartlett took one touch and then drilled the ball from 25 yards into the bottom left hand corner of the net - a great strike. Half
time: 2-0.

The pressure dropped in the first 20 minutes of the second half as Poole took their foot off the pedal and the passing started to go astray. On 53 minutes Matty White saw a long range volley whistle just over the bar and with 20 minutes left Snell and Sturgess came on for Chivers and Manning.

The final ten minutes saw Poole add to their goal tally as the Hythe defence finally succombed to the pressure again. On 84 minutes some great work from Gary Bartlett saw him slide the ball through and Funnell smashed in his second of the game and in the last couple of minutes Funnell saw another piledriver cleared off the line with the keeper beaten. With the ref about to blow for full time Poole added a fourth when substitute Cherrett put Snell through and the youngster coolly slotted the ball past the advancing keeper to score on his league debut.

Poole: Scriven, Spalding, Mountford, Cornick (Cherrett), Bartlett, Funnell, White, Richardson, L. Manning (Sturgess), Chivers (Snell), Turner

Poole Town  4  V  0  Andover New Street  -  Wessex League Division 2

Tommy Killick was able to field a strong side for the visit of lowly Andover New Street to Tatnam. Gary Funnell returned from suspension, Leigh Cornick from injury and both Bartlett and Chivers returned from County duty at the weekend. New signing Richard Glenister (27 goals for Poole in
2000/01) started on the bench.

This was a particularly one-side match as Poole produced excellent flowing football which resulted in almost total possession from the first whistle to the last. The whole team contributed to the result and the slick passing and movement was really enjoyed by the healthy Poole support.

On 4 minutes Gary Funnell produced the first of many crosses on the night and as the ball swung in from the left Cornick was free in the box but could only hook the ball over from close range. Two minutes later and Funnell fed Lee Manning and after cutting in from the left his shot flew just wide of the left hand post. Three minutes more and it was the same result for Manning, this time having been played in by a great ball from Aaron Turner.

The breakthrough came on 22 minutes. Funnell raced clear and as the keeper came out his attempted lob was not quite high enough but after the keeper had parried the ball away Carl Chivers was on hand to knock the ball into an empty net. Chivers continued to cause problems for New Street and he had two more chances shortly after which were both deflected for corners. On 31 minutes Taffy Richardson met another corner with a firm header but again the ball went just over the bar.

Poole continued to play patient football and the second goal was always going to be a matter of time. On 40 minutes some great passing eventually saw Funnell slide the ball to Bartlett and his first time shot went wide of the right hand post. On the stroke of half time Poole doubled their lead.
Good work down the left saw a cross met by Turner but his touch came back off the underside of the bar and yet again Chivers was on hand to tap in his second of the game. Half time: 2-0.

The second half followed the same pattern as the first as Poole dominated possession and created chance after chance. On 57 minutes it looked as though Chivers would secure his hat-trick but as he raced clear his volley beat the keeper but landed just wide of the post. As the game wore on Sturgess and Glenister replaced White and Chivers and still Poole pressed for more goals. On 81 minutes a high ball was brought down well by Funnell and in acres of space he beat the keeper and fired past the last defender on the line to score his 20th of the season.

In the final minute Poole wrapped up a great win when Turner burst through the defence and fired low to the keeper's left.

Poole: Scriven, Spalding, Mountford, Cornick (Welsh), Bartlett, Funnell, White (Sturgess), Richardson, L. Manning, Chivers (Glenister), Turner

Fawley  1  V  2  Poole Town  -  Wessex League Division 2

Following the disappointing display and result against Stockbridge on Bank Holiday Monday, Poole travelled to lowly Fawley in an effort to maintain their fine away form. With Funnell still suspended and Cornick out injured, both Dave Sturgess and Paul Bayston started the game. Jason Mountford also returned to the side. Bartlett and Chivers were on County duty elsewhere.

The pitch at Fawley is never favourable for good football and with the recent rain it was very bumpy and heavy. It was always going to be a physical battle.

Poole took the lead on 15 minutes. After a backpass from a Fawley defender, the keeper attempted to clear the ball but with Aaron Turner closing him down the ball was well blocked by the Poole forward and with the keeper stranded Turner was able to turn and roll the ball into an empty net. The lead however was shortlived as Fawley struck back almost immediately. A freekick on the left of the Poole area was whipped in and as both Fawley player and keeper went up for the ball the striker just got there first and headed the ball over Scriven to level the match up.

Both sides continued to struggle to put any decent passing together and chances were few and far between. Matty White came close on 22 minutes when his 30 yard shot whistled narrowly over the bar. Stuart Brown left the field injured on 30 minutes and Cherrett came on in the defence with Lee Manning moving up to midfield.

Fawley continued to battle hard and on 38 minutes a shot from the edge of the Poole box flew over the bar. As half time neared Mountford broke clear and his shot was superbly tipped over for a corner. And the last move of the half was perhaps the best of the match. Richardson got away down the right and his cross was scooped over from close range by Warrington when perhaps Turner was in a better position to finish. Half time: 1-1.

The Dolphins began the second half in better form and slowly the pressure began to tell on the Fawley defence. On 55 minutes the breakthrough came.
Sturgess delivered the ball out to Warrington and as he closed in on goal from the right he drilled the ball low past the keeper and Ollie Cherrett was at the far post with the final touch. Three minutes later and Warrington was through again but this time the keeper saved well with his legs.

A bizarre incident occurred on 69 minutes. Matty White controlled the ball and with his back to goal simply played the ball back to another Poole player. The referee (who has always been a nightmare in the past, was a nightmare today and no doubt will be awful in the future) decided to give Fawley a freekick and then proceeded to give White a yellow card! With the Poole players incensed Taffy Richardson got involved and after receiving a yellow card for dissent, proceeded to keep arguing and got a second yellow and therefore red and was sent off.

Down to ten men Poole played out the remaining 20 minutes fairly comfortably and special mention must go to the youngsters Sturgess and in particular Paul Bayston. They were superb in tricky conditions today and Bayston was an absolute rock at the back.

Poole: Scriven, Bayston, Spalding, Mountford, Richardson, L. Manning, White, Brown (Cherrett), Sturgess, Turner, Warrington (Byrom)

Poole Town  1  V  1  Stockbridge  -  Wessex League Division 2

Poole Town started 2005 with a home league clash against Stockbridge. The visitors topped the league at the start of the season but although having dropped to mid-table they always play good football and matches against them tend to be fairly tight affairs. Poole were missing some key players as Gary Funnell and Taffy Richardson (bench) were missing and Leigh Cornick also had to leave the pitch injured midway through the first half.

From the start it was clear that Stockbridge were up for the game and they looked busy and sharp in the opening few minutes. It was therefore against the run of play when Poole scored from their first real attack after just five minutes. A great ball sent Gary Bartlett away down the right and he slid the ball through the defence to the back post where Stuart Brown was on hand to tap the ball in. A great start but that was as good as it got for the Dolphins.

In a fairly even first half there were few clear cut chances for either side. On 32 minutes Warrington raced clear but delayed too long on the ball and a defender got back well to concede a corner. Half time: 1-0.

Carl Chivers replaced Aaron Turner at half time and his pace did create a few more problems for the Stockbridge defence. However, it was the visitors who looked quicker and more dangerous on the break and they got a deserved equaliser on 57 minutes. A corner from the left found it's way through a clutch of players and a Stockbridge player needed only a simple header at the far post to level the game up.

On 71 minutes keeper Scriven produced a fine save low to his left after a good move saw the ball knocked down for a Stockbridge player to unleash a fierce shot. Eight minutes later and Scriven was again on hand when he smothered the ball when faced with a one-on-one situation. His handling and positioning was exceptional as always and coupled with Neal Spalding who alone was fantastic at the back whilst those around him were at sixes and sevens, probably helped Poole to salvage a point from the game.

Stockbridge should have sealed a victory in the last few minutes when a cross found a player totally unmarked but he could only manage to scoop the ball high over the bar from 5 yards out.

A poor Poole performance which perhaps underlines the importance and influence of Funnell to the side. They will need to improve again for Saturday if they are to strengthen their second position in the league.

Poole: Scriven, Cornick (Welsh), Spalding, Cherrett, Bartlett, White, Sturgess, L. Manning, Brown, Turner (Chivers), Warrington (Richardson)