The match away at West Wight Mayflower was postponed.

Following their tremendous performance at Pirelli on Tuesday night, Poole returned to Tatnam Farm looking to keep the pressure on against lowly Colden Common.Andy Gater replaced Martin Jones at the back and Danny Adams started ahead of Richard Glenister.

A slow start was made by Poole they fell a goal behind on 13 minutes. Andy Gater made a rare error at the back and the Colden Common striker was able to nip in, round the keeper and slot the ball home. Poole immediately struck back and a great run and cross from Jamie Holland on the right was volleyed first time over the bar by Simon Flanz. On 20 minutes Poole were level - Holland reacting quickest to a rebound in the box and finishing well. On 27 minutes Poole took full control as a brilliant cross from the right was met with a powerful header by Flanz who planted it into the top right hand corner of the net. With five minutes to the break Poole piled on more pressure and as Danny Adams saw his shot parried by the keeper, Flanz stole in again to score his tenth goal in the last six games; he is now top scorer for the season. Half-Time: 3-1

During the second half Poole made several changes as Simon Lynn, Martin Jones and Richard Glenister replaced Paul Maloney, Neil Wardle and Danny Adams respectively. The second half failed to live up the first as Poole, although controlling the game, seemed to over-complicate a lot of the play. When they did keep it simple they looked impressive coming forward and Andy Culliford produced another good game in midfield. The fourth goal came on 85 minutes - another super Holland cross was met at the back post by Flanz who headed against the post. Glenister was on hand to smash home the rebound and Glenister again broke free in injury time to place the ball past the keeper.

With Pirelli losing and Vospers also going down at home, The Dolphins have now hit top spot in the league for the first time this season. With 6 of the next 7 games away from home it will be a big test for Poole to stay there.........

Poole: Stockley, Wardle (Jones), Pratt, Gater, Smith, Fletcher, Culliford, Holland, Adams (Glenister), Flanz, Maloney (Lynn)

Correction!

It appears that Simon Flanz scored all four goals at Pirelli on Tuesday and not the hat-trick reported below. I'll blame it on the poor floodlights!!!

A bumper crowd gathered to see the top two clash on a cold night at Pirelli Sports Ground. Prior to tonight Pirelli had been beaten just once in their last 18 league matches and that against Poole at Tatnam. With an unbeaten 6 month home record Pirelli sought revenge for that December defeat but slumped to a brilliant performance from Poole Town as The Dolphins cruised to a 4-0 victory and the completion of a satisfactory double over the league leaders.

The opening twenty minutes proved extremely physical and was definitely not for the fainthearted. Several late and dangerous challenges were committed on both sides as the two sides set about each other and several yellow cards were shown in quick succession. Eventually football took over and it was Poole who started to get the ball down and control the game. On 26 minutes there seemed to be no danger as a ball was lobbed into the Pirelli penalty area - Simon Flanz suddenly broke free from his marker and his left foot volley found the right hand corner of the net. On 33 minutes Pirelli
broke and a superb through ball saw their striker one v one with Poole keeper Terry Stockley. In what turned out to be their only real chance of the game the striker slotted the ball past Stockley but saw it agonisingly roll just wide of the post. On the stroke of half time Andy Culliford produced a fine run from the half way line as he sprinted into the box his left foot shot was dragged just wide of the right hand post. Half-Time: 0-1.

The second half continued as the first had finished - Poole in control,superb in defence and building right across the midfield, providing good service into Richard Glenister and Simon Flanz. It was a defensive error on 64 minutes, however, that put Poole two up. A defender lost possession on the right hand side and with the keeper stranded the ball was squared for Glenister to tap in. Rather than sit back on the lead Poole increased the pressure during the last half hour and more goals always looked likely. On 81 minutes, Glenister produced some good work down the left and his cross was met by Flanz to make it 3-0. Two minutes later Flanz was free again and his clever lob left the keeper stranded. As the ball cannoned back off the post Flanz followed in to blast the ball into the net to complete his second hat-trick of the season.

This was a terrific result for Poole with fine performances coming from everyone on the pitch. The gap has closed to three points at the top but Poole retain four games in hand over Pirelli. With Vospers winning again tonight and Stockbridge also having games in hand the pressure is still on to maintain recent results and the race for the title is still well and truly on.

Poole: Stockley, Wardle, Pratt, Jones, Smith, Fletcher, Culliford, Holland, Glenister, Flanz, Maloney
Unused subs: Atherton, Adams, Gater

After recent postponements due to the weather, Poole Town lined up against Premier League Champions Amesbury Town under a blue sky and a healthy crowd at Tatnam Farm. With Darren Mooney and Simon Lynn still out with injury it was a familiar line-up for The Dolphins.

Poole got off to a good start when they took the lead after just seven minutes. Simon Flanz broke clear and as the keeper advanced, he took the ball wide of the keeper and slotted home from a tight angle. Poole continued to pressurise Amesbury and the second goal duly followed. On 25 minutes a super through ball from Paul Maloney saw Flanz clear again and as he held the defender off he slotted number two past the keeper. The match turned into a midfield battle from this point and half time came with no further chances. Half-Time: 2-0.

Danny Adams and Andy Gater came on for Richard Glenister and Martin Jones respectively and the half proceeded as the first had finished - Poole controlling the game but unable to find the killer goal. Jamie Holland had another super game down the right and created chance after chance for his team-mates but chances from Culliford and Adams all went begging. Late on Danny Adams turned and fired a shot which the keeper brilliantly turned round the post. Terry Stockley had little to do at the other end as the Poole defence comfortably dealt with any threat from Amesbury - Chris Pratt having another fine game.

Three more points sees Poole maintain their challenge for the title and they now face a crunch game at leaders Pirelli on Tuesday night.

Poole: Stockley, Wardle, Pratt, Jones (Gater), Smith, Fletcher, Culliford, Holland, Glenister (Adams), Flanz, Maloney
Unused sub: Atherton

The match away at Amesbury Town has been postponed again due to waterlogged pitch.

The match away at Hythe & Dibden today has been postponed. During the course of this last week Poole Town have offered Hythe & Dibden the opportunity to switch the game to Tatnam if the pitch at Hythe was unplayable. This offer was rejected by Hythe with the promise, despite the poor weather forecast, that the pitch would be OK. At 12.10pm today they contacted Poole Town and announced that the match was off. Given the fact that Hythe & Dibden have played just 14 league games in 6 months and still have 26 league games to play in 3 months, this is a disgraceful carry-on from the Hampshire club. At this level of football and with the huge backlog of fixtures across all non-leagues, clubs have to be flexible and work together to ease the fixture crisis. Unfortunately, this attitude seems beyond Hythe & Dibden and they have not only ruined their own season but are now spoiling it for the rest of the clubs in the Premier League as well. So, with a perfect available pitch at Tatnam, both clubs now have to sit out yet another Saturday and add yet another fixture to the backlog. Well done Hythe & Dibden!

Team News

Poole Town are hoping to sign French player Louis Gonzales. He has trained with the club and looks a superb 21 year old talent. Poole have faxed the English FA and are currently seeking international clearance from the French FA in order that he may be available for Tuesday's game at Amesbury Town.

A further meeting has been planned for the beginning of March to report on progress made by all sides and, at last, it now looks like the necessary action will now happen to provide Poole Town with the facilities to move up the football pyramid.Watch this space in the coming weeks as and when things happen.

The match away at Amesbury Town has been postponed due to waterlogged pitch. It is hoped that this fixture will now take place on Tuesday 13th February.

Also, it seems that Locks Heath are involved in a cup game on the 17th February so Amesbury are hoping to step in and play their away match at Poole on that date. These changes to be confirmed.

After suffering their first defeat in 14 matches in mid-week, Poole Town bounced back with a 2-0 win over AFC Aldermaston. Simon Flanz partnered Richard Glenister upfront, Chris Smith replaced the injured Darren Mooney and Andy Culliford made a welcome return also.

After 12 minutes Chris Smith sent Flanz away and the striker coolly slotted past the keeper into the far corner. 1-0.
The expected goal-rush failed to materialise as AFC Aldermaston defended with grit and determination and certainly played better than when the two sides met back in November. On 22 minutes Jamie Holland was tripped in the box but Richard Glenister's penalty was blasted wide of the left hand post. Numerous other chances came and went for The Dolphins as goalmouth scramble followed goalmouth scramble but the ball would not go in. Half-Time: 1-0.

The second half followed a similar pattern with Aldermaston frustrating the home side's efforts for a second goal. On 53 minutes Paul Maloney cut inside from the left wing and sent a great ball out to the right. Smith latched onto the ball but his shot was saved by the feet of the diving keeper. Within five minutes Poole eventually made the game safe when Glenister pounced to score his 10th of the season. Another nearly followed on 69 minutes after the best move of the match. Culliford sent Flanz away down the left and he hit a superb cross with the outside of his right foot, picking out Glenister in the middle who volleyed just over the bar.

The game fizzled out in the closing stages with Richie Atherton and Simon Lynn coming on for Jamie Holland and Richard Glenister respectively. Both Paul Maloney and Andy Culliford had good games and Holland was his usual busy and skilful self on the right hand side. The priority today was three points and with this achieved it's now on to another midweek game, this time at champions Amesbury Town on Tuesday night.

Poole: Stockley, Gater (Wardle), Pratt, Jones, Smith, Fletcher, Culliford, Holland (Atherton), Glenister (Lynn), Flanz, Maloney