Poole Town  1  V  0  Blackfield & Langley  -  Wessex League Division 2

After the recent weather conditions full credit must be given to the Club for producing a magnificent pitch on which to play for this latest Wessex 2 fixture. After the 3-2 win at Blackfield earlier in the season it was always going to be a tricky tie for Poole as they sought to go unbeaten in 16 league games. Joe Collins made a welcome return to the starting line-up and Danny Woods made his home debut for Poole.

In a week when Wessex League officials have come under renewed attack (see story on Andy Starmore's site here), they did themselves no favours here either with possibly the worst refereeing ever seen at Tatnam. Whilst the officials will always moan that players and club officials should keep themselves disciplined, they simply cannot expect that to happen when they drop to the depths that they displayed today. There are simply no excuses for this - it was an absolute disgrace. Supporters pay hard earned cash to come to a game and they knew that both Poole and Blackfield would produce the good in terms of football ability. However, the game was completely dominated and ruined by a man devoid of any common sense or ability to run a game.

On 8 minutes Gary Funnell brought a high ball down and then set up Collins but his shot was deflected over the ball when a goal looked certain. On 24 minutes Poole produced some fine passing down the right and Funnell again was instrumental as he sent Brown racing away. As the striker closed in his fierce shot was well saved by the out-stretched leg of the visiting keeper. A couple of minutes later and Woolfenden produced a great run on the wing cutting in and beating 2 or 3 players. His shot was deflected across the face of the goal and with an empty net the out-stretched Brown could only manage to prod the ball wide. Unfortunately on 33 minutes Brown picked up a knock but and he was replaced by Chivers.

In the reverse fixture it was Chivers who came off the bench to terrorise the Blackfield defence and his introduction saw him carry on in the same vein. On the pitch two minutes Chivers raced away down the right, beat his defender and delivered a pin-point cross to Joe Collins who volleyed home from close range. On the stroke of half time it was the same combination again as Chivers produced another superb cross but this time Collins saw his header flash just over the bar. Half-time: 1-0.

Poole continued to play good football in the second half and Woolfenden stuck a shot just wide of the right hand post after another good run down the left. Whilst it was clear that Blackfield are a more than capable side they never really threatened the Poole goal - the nearest they got was along range effort which Scriven caught comfortably.

On 79 minutes Cornick left the field for an injury but came back on when he believed the referee had waved him back. The referee immediately blew and issued Cornick with a second yellow card and sent him off! This was ludicrous. If the player genuinely believed he had been waved on then all he had done was make a mistake (if indeed the ref had not waved him on). Rules or not, is that really worthy of a yellow card especially when other fouls (on both sides) had gone completely unpunished by the ref? Cornick will now face another suspension when all that was needed was a modicum of common sense. Other yellow cards were shown with constant regularity by the ref as both sides fell victim to his behaviour. With about five minutes to go the ref (just in front of me), after yet another stoppage, told the Blackfield players to get on with the game. A Blackfield player clapped his hands twice and the exact words from the ref were "OK - I'm going to do you now for giving me a round of applause". How can a man with this mentality be allowed to officiate at any level of the game? It really is unbelievable.

Despite being down to ten men Poole continued to control the game and they killed off the remaining ten minutes with comparative ease.  Another good three points and with Lymington losing at home to Romsey perhaps there really is a chance Poole could yet take the title?

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

Hythe & Dibden  0  V  5  Poole Town  -  Wessex League Division 2

Unfortunately no full match report available.

Danny Woods (ex Eastleigh and Wimborne Town) made his debut in place of the injured Taffy Richardson. New signing from Hamworthy Rec Peter Goodbody started on the bench.

On 7 minutes Funnell found Woolfenden who finished well to give Poole the lead. 9 minutes later and Funnell was again provider as he found Brown on the edge of the area. He produced a great lob to double the Dolphin's lead. Half-time: 0-2.

Woolfenden produced another exquisite lob on 47 minutes to score his second of the game and with the result in the bag, manager Killick was able to make changes. Off came Cornick, Funnell and Bartlett to be replaced by Chivers, Goodbody and Bayston respectively.

On 69 minutes a Brown header came back off the bar and a minute later Goodbody marked his debut with a goal as he crashed home a right foot shot after being set up by Chivers. Perhaps the best goal of the game came on 75 minutes when Bayston sent Chivers away on the edge of the box and he clipped the ball past the advancing keeper into the corner.

As the Hythe players lost their cool one of their players was dismissed as the game came to a close.

Another very good for Poole who have now won their last 11 away games in all competitions.

Poole: Scriven, Cornick (Chivers), Spalding, Cherrett, Bartlett (Bayston), Woolfenden, White, Funnell (Goodbody), Woods, Brown, L. Manning

Stockbridge  2  V  4  Poole Town  -  Wessex League Division 2

Poole Town travelled to Stockbridge for their latest Wessex Division 2 match. At the beginning of January Stockbridge deserved a point in the 1-1 draw at Tatnam so Poole knew they would have a tricky game in the reverse fixture. Stuart Brown returned from injury (and how!) and Gary Bartlett also took his place on the right flank after his county duty at the weekend.

In sub zero temperatures Poole were very slow to get into the flow of the game. It was a scrappy first half and one in which Poole will feel a little fortunate to end all square. Stockbridge took the lead on 23 minutes after Poole had looked fairly comfortable at the back. Scriven had already made a couple of bad clearances and he was to get punished severely with the first goal. A backpass was kicked out poorly but found a Poole player. Under pressure the defender played the ball back to Scriven again and this time yet another bad kick went straight to a Stockbridge player and he thumped the ball home. For a keeper who has been so solid with his handling and kicking all season it was a bizarre few seconds!

Gradually Poole began to wake up and as soon as they got the ball down and started to pass, things improved dramatically. The equaliser came on 38 minutes and again it was a keeper error. Some good passing down the left saw the ball drop to Brown and his volley saw the keeper get behind the shot but after making the initial save he somehow scooped the ball past him into the net.

Worryingly Taffy Richardson pulled up with what looked like a hamstring problem and he was eventually replaced by Carl Chivers with Lee Manning dropping back into midfield. Half time: 1-1.

Poole played the second half much better than the first and they soon started to create a number of chances. On 58 minutes Funnell produced a reverse pass which split the defence but Brown's shot slid just wide of the right hand post. Three minutes later and the home keeper raced off his line in a one-on-one chase with Carl Chivers to get to the ball. As the ball bounced away from the keeper's challenge Funnell hit a first time shot from 40 yards. With an empty goal begging the ball bounced just wide of the right hand post.

The pressure was mounting on Stockbridge at this point and Poole finally took the lead on 67 minutes. A Funnell corner was superbly brought down by Brown and with his touch creating himself time and space he was able to let the ball drop before firing in a left footed volley into the far corner.
With Poole now in control it was unfortunately another error from Scriven which allowed Stockbridge back into the game. An innocuous cross from the right was gathered by the keeper but on landing he allowed the ball to spill out and the Stockbridge No. 9 had an easy tap in to level the game.

Poole were not to be denied in this game however and within two minutes Brown had completed his hat-trick. A fantastic run from Gary Bartlett saw him beat 2 or 3 players. He then slid the ball through to Brown but his initial shot was weak. The keeper easily saved the shot but again the ball was dropped and Brown was able to follow up and hammer the ball home from a tight angle.

Stuart Brown completed a memorable night when he scored his fourth goal of the game on 85 minutes. He received the ball 35 yards out and with his back to goal. On turning he spotted the keeper off his line and his exquisite chip dipped just under the bar to seal the points for Poole.

Poole: Scriven, Cornick, Spalding, Cherrett, Bartlett, Woolfenden, White, Funnell (Sturgess), Richardson (Chivers), Brown (Bayston), L. Manning

East Cowes VA  1  V  2  Poole Town  -  Wessex League Division 2

Unfortunately no full match report available.

Carl Chivers and Gary Bartlett were both on County duty and Mountford and Brown still injured. Richardson suspended and Joe Collins away.

Poole took lead on 8 minutes when Warrington set up Funnell for an 18 yard right foot drive. Half-time: 0-1.

On 56 minutes the home keeper tried to take on Ryan Woolfenden after receiving a back-pass. Woolfenden stole the ball and Lee Manning finished off the loose ball.

On 67 minutes Woolfenden put Scriven under pressure with a thrown and Scriven's attempted clearance rebounded off a Cowes player and he tapped in for an easy goal.

Poole: Scriven, Spalding, Cherrett, Cornick, Bayston (Harris), Woolfenden, White, Sturgess, Funnell, Warrington (Dobbs), L. Manning

Wessex League Cup News

Poole Town will face Thatcham Town in the Wessex League Cup Semi Final after they beat Winchester City 3-1 in the quarter final. The tie will be over two legs - dates to be announced.

Ground News

At last I can finally confirm that months (years?!) of hard work on behalf of the Club Directors, planning permission has finally been given to erect covered accommodation at Tatnam. The plans are for a 150 seater stand including room for 75 standing and 2 disabled bays. Work is expected to begin within days.

This is absolutely fantastic news for the Club and it's supporters as promotion to Wessex League Division 1 should now be a real possibility this season.

More details on this and on how supporters can sponsor a seat in the stand will follow shortly. Watch this space!

Player News

Unfortunately Aaron Turner has decided to return to the USA. We thank him for his 21 appearances and 7 goals for the club.

Poole Town  2  V  0  Bishops Waltham Town  -  Wessex League Division 2

Poole Town kept up their strong challenge for runners-up spot with a comfortable home win against Bishops Waltham. Gary Funnell (away) and Leigh Cornick (suspended) were replaced by Dave Sturgess and Ollie Cherrett respectively.

A rare mistake from Lee Manning on 8 minutes saw his backpass hit too weak and Scriven did very well to save with his legs when faced one-on-one with the Waltham striker. Poole created their first chance three minutes later. A Woolfenden corner was headed back across his own goal by a defender and Collins saw his header acrobatically tipped over by the visitor's keeper.

Town took the lead on 14 minutes. Carl Chivers produced some sublime skill to beat his man on the right and his pinpoint cross was met my Joe Collins and his superb header beat the keeper at the near post. Collins netted his second of the game after 23 minutes. A quick freekick was held up well by Bartlett on the edge of the box and after he had laid the ball off for Matty White, the resulting cross was met by Collins again at the far post as he hooked in for an easy goal.

Poole were really in control at this stage and it looked as though there would be goals all afternoon. On 29 minutes Woolfenden brought the ball down well and his first time volley was superbly tipped over the bar for a corner. Half time: 2-0.

In fairness to Bishops Waltham they never gave up the cause and they came racing out of the blocks at the start of the second half. Scriven produced another fine save to concede a corner almost from the kick-off and he had to claim the ball well from the corner to maintain his clean sheet.

Other chances came and went for Poole - most notably a Chivers volley going over the bar on 63 minutes. On 76 minutes Chivers produced another fine cross and this time substitute Warrington brought the ball down before his volley was well saved by the keeper. Warrington got clean through on 79 minutes and, needing a goal to boost his confidence, his fierce volley whistled the wrong side of the post. This was the last decent chance of the game and Poole collected three more points and maintained their record of never having conceded a goal at home to Bishops Waltham in five years.

Poole: Scriven, Spalding, Cherrett, L. Manning, Bartlett (Welsh), Woolfenden, White (Warrington), Sturgess, Richardson, Chivers (Bayston), Collins