With ten wins and two draws from their previous twelve games Poole returned to cup action as they sought to reach their second Dorset Senior Cup Final in three years. Phillips returned from suspension and the squad was also boosted by the return of Stuart Brown and Alli Harris. With Gillingham riding high in the Dorset Premier League this was always going to be a tough game and the icy surface to the pitch was not going to help flowing football.

It was the north Dorset side who started the game stronger and right from the start they looked dangerous on the break. It was therefore no surprise when they grabbed an early lead after just 7 minutes. A corner from the left was knocked down and the ball was smashed home from just a few yards out. Even this, however failed to wake the Poole side up as they continued to play poorly throughout the first half. With Gillingham growing in confidence and threatening a second goal, the Poole side resorted to sliced or hoofed clearances all over the pitch - it was not a pretty sight. The only two chances in the first half for Poole both came from freekicks with both Richardson and Phillips heading over the bar.

Half time: 1-0.

The second half was a different affair as Poole finally woke up and started playing some football. The excellent Sean Hogan provided numerous good crosses and on 48 minutes Chivers headed just wide after another cross to the near post. The Poole pressure paid off on 52 minutes. A series of corners eventually saw the ball flicked on and Chivers managed to stick out a leg and knock the ball in to level the match.

A nasty looking challenge a minute later saw Cherrett given a straight red card and there was a delay of 15 minutes as an ambulance was called onto the pitch and the Gillingham player was taken away to hospital - unfortunately I have no update on the injury at this time. With Poole down to 10 men however, they increased their hold on the game and it was fairly one-way traffic thereafter. The Gillingham defence looked increasingly fragile at the back as Poole attacked down both flanks.

On 82 minutes Poole sealed their cup final place when yet another pin-point cross from Hogan was met by Leigh Phillips and he sent a superb glancing header past the keeper into the far corner of the net.

Poole: Spillane, Cornick, Cherrett, Whitley, Richardson, Hogan, Harris (S. Brown), White, Hounsell, Chivers, Phillips

More league action for Poole Town as they took on Bemerton Heath Harlequins at Tatnam. Despite already winning the away fixture 2-1, Poole knew that this would be a tough fixture as Bemerton had won at Wimborne Town by the same scoreline just four days previous. It was a much changed side for Poole with Leigh Phillips and Ryan Woolfenden suspended and Alli Harris and Stuart Brown still away on holiday. Leigh Cornick continued at the back and there was a welcome return for Danny Hounsell in midfield. Richard Glenister partnered Carl Chivers up front.

Poole continued their recent form and took the lead after just 7 minutes. A Sean Hogan corner was met by the head of Taffy Richardson at the far post and the ball shot back past the keeper into the corner.

On 28 minutes Hogan again provided a great cross after Ollie Cherrett had challenged the goalkeeper the ball found the back of the net but was disallowed for a foul. Several minutes later and Chivers had his first chance. He turned well within the area and his shot was parried high into the air by the Bemerton goalie before being scrambled away for a corner. On 37 minutes Cherrett unleashed a fierce dipping volley from 25 yards but the ball narrowly missed the right hand post.

Half time: 1-0.

Poole continued to control the game and they created several slick passages of passing. On 65 minutes a cross from the left was left unchallenged and Richardson managed to get down and scoop his header into the corner to double the Dolphin's lead. The Poole goal did not really come under any threat for the rest of the game and on 76 minutes there was an amazing passage of play as four Poole shots were met by four successive blocks in front of goal. In the dying seconds of the match Poole received a freekick just outside the area and Richardson stepped up to complete his fine hat-trick, although it took a wicked deflection off the wall and the keeper somehow missed the bouncing ball on it's way to the net.

Poole: Spillane, Whitley, Cherrett, Cornick, Hogan, Bartlett, Hounsell, White, Richardson, Chivers (Totzcyk), Glenister (McLeod)

Poole Town extended their unbeaten league run to eight games (unbeaten in 10 in all competitions) as they completed a league double over Alton Town in the space of just eight days.
With Neal Spalding and Ollie Cherrett suspended there was a welcome return to the first team for Leigh Cornick and Ian Richardson also returned to the heart of the defence since his only appearance earlier in the season. Carl Chivers was injured so Richard Glenister renewed his partnership with Leigh Phillips up front.

This was a game that Poole controlled from start to finish and they produced some great passages of good passing and movement. After just three minutes Cornick delivered in a great ball from the left and after a flick on, Leigh Phillips got his head to the ball but it flew just over the bar.

On 26 minutes Luke Whitley delivered a cross from the right which picked out the run of Glenister. Unfortunately his diving header went just wide of the post. The breakthrough came on 33 minutes and it was a cracking goal. A low ball in from Cornick was controlled and set up for Glenister who superbly curled the ball around the keeper into the top right corner of the net. Two minutes later and Poole doubled their lead when a Hogan corner found the head of Phillips and he thumped the ball past the keeper.

Just before the break Chris Knowles beat several players before putting Harris through but his shot was well saved by the keeper's legs. Half time: 2-0.

Again the second half was pretty much one-way as Poole continued to play well and look for the openings. On 68 minutes, after a series of crosses and goalmouth scrambles, Phillips hammered the ball home to record his 11th goal in the last 9 games.

Alton's best effort came with just two minutes left on the clock. A ball over the top saw an Alton player just get to the ball ahead of Spillane in the Poole goal and his shot rolled agonisingly towards the goal before Whitley managed to get back and clear from off the line.

Poole: Spillane, Cornick, I. Richardson, Whitley, Hogan, Harris (Woolfenden), White, S. Richardson, Knowles, Glenister (Bartlett), Phillips

Neal Spalding and Ollie Cherrett will both be suspended for this weekend's game against Alton Town at Tatnam. Stuart Brown will also be unavailable.

On the plus side Danny Hounsell is ready to return and Leigh 'Boris' Cornick may also feature in the first team (and a welcome return that will be too!). Tommy Killick has also signed Andy Harris, defender, from Dorchester Town.

Match report courtesy of matchday programme.

On a pitch that did no favours to either team in the football playing stakes, the home side could have taken an early lead but they spurned the chances. It was Poole who nosed ahead on 43 minutes through Carl Chivers, who chipped the keeper from 16 yards after a through ball from Taffy Richardson. Half time: 0-1.

49 mins and Poole were two up after a right wing run and cut in from Chris Knowles, the ball beating the keeper at his front post. On 52 minutes a goal was ruled out for Poole. 58 minutes saw Neal Spalding head forward, Carl Chivers helped the ball on and Leigh Phillips fired low past the keeper from the right side of the box - 3-0.

On the hour Alton's Ady Mojer received a straight red card for questions to the referee - so dissent!! The home side pulled it back to 3-1 with a penalty from Cav Ferris on 84 minutes after Luke Whitley was adjudged to have fouled in the box.

Poole: Spillane, Hogan, Spalding, Whitley, Cherrett, Knowles, S. Brown (McLeod), Richardson (Harris), Phillips, Chivers (Bartlett), White

Poole Town will travel to Andover for the first leg of the Wessex League Cup Semi Final on Tuesday 7th March.

Two of the most in-form sides in Wessex Division 1 met at Tatnam as Poole Town, unbeaten in five league games) took on AFC Totton, unbeaten in 6 league games. Neal Spalding returned to the Poole defence and Richardson moving up to midfield with the absence of Chris Knowles.

It was clear from the start that Totton were a well organised, quick and strong side. They took an early lead in the 6th minute when a ball into the Poole box was not dealt with well and the Totton No. 10 was able to turn and pass the ball into an empty net. The Poole defence continued to struggle in the first half with poor clearances and passes from everyone at the back.

On 26 minutes another poor clearance found only a Totton striker and with only the keeper to beat he blasted high and wide of the bar. Poole began to get back into the game and fashioned a good chance on 33 minutes. A ball into the box saw Phillips suck the defenders in and Chivers was left free but the keeper just won the race for the ball. Just before the break a Luke Whitley free kick managed to elude several players before the ball came off Chivers's knee straight at the keeper who saved well. Half time: 0-1.

After the panicky first half, Poole settled much better in the second period and at last got the ball down and played some really good football. On 52 minutes a ball into Carl Chivers saw him produce some great skill as he neatly flicked it into the path of a sprinting Stuart Brown. However, the keeper managed to block his shot and the ball was cleared.

Totton continued to look dangerous on the break and on 65 minutes a header in the box from a cross seemed to go into slow motion as the ball trickled towards goal before softly hitting the post. The follow up shot was blocked for a corner. This corner also caused problems in the Poole defence and there was an almighty scramble before the ball was hacked away to safety. Three minutes later the impressive Hamodu got clean through but Spillane pulled off a great point blank save to deny him and again some desperate blocking prevented further follow up shots.

Despite these two chances to seal the game for Totton, Poole continued to battle hard and as the half wore on so they looked the stronger side and whilst Totton have proved to be difficult to beat in recent weeks, so have Poole and their hard work and endeavour was finally rewarded on 79 minutes. A corner from the left was met by Taffy Richardson at the far post and his header went back across goal and just squeezed over the line at the far post. The celebrations of players and supporters alike underlined the importance of the goal and an extension of the recent run of good results for the Dolphins.

A hard won point for Poole and a draw was the fair result on the day when Totton shaded the first half and Poole the second.

Poole: Spillane, Spalding, Cherrett, Whitley, White, Harris, Hogan, Richardson, S. Brown, Chivers (Glenister), Phillips

Poole Town's excellent form in the league continued with another convincing home win, this time against BAT Sports. With Neal Spalding missing, Taffy Richardson slotted into the back line alongside Ollie Cherrett and Luke Whitley.

The opening fifteen minutes saw little goalmouth action as both sides battled to gain control in midfield. As Poole started to dominate possession so the chances were created. On 17 minutes Matty White surged through from midfield and he picked out Carl Chivers with a good ball. The youngster turned and fired a right foot shot across the keeper into the left hand corner of the net and the Dolphins were in front.

BAT created their first chance just three minutes later - a free kick from the right was headed back across goal and with no-one getting a touch the ball rolled just past the far post. On 23 minutes Poole doubled their lead. A great cross from the excellent Sean Hogan saw a header from Chivers loop over the keeper into the back of the net. A minute later and the BAT keeper pulled off a great point blank save from a shot just 3 yards out.

Carl Chivers completed his third senior hat-trick for Poole Town after just 30 minutes of the first half. More good work down the right saw a cross elude all of the defenders in the box and with keeper flat footed Carl nipped past him to score with his left foot and complete the perfect (right foot, left foot, header) hat-trick.

At this stage Poole were rampant and more goals looked on the cards. A great move on 35 minutes ended with Hogan drilling a right foot shot past the post. On 40 minutes Cherrett did well, winning the ball and putting Stuart Brown away on the left. As he cut in his shot beat the keeper but found only the side netting. The final chance of the half fell to Chivers again. Leigh Phillips produced some great skill, beating two defenders. A super ball found Chivers and after he had cut inside his chip shot was just tipped over the bar by the visiting keeper.

Half time: 3-0.

With Poole in control Tommy Killick made a couple of changes at half time - James Totczyk and Gary Clarke for Chivers and Cherrett respectively.

The second half saw Poole still in control of the game but BAT stuck to their task and continued to work hard. On 68 minutes the ball came to Phillips on the left side of the BAT area and his (miss-hit??!!) shot managed to trickle past the keeper into the left corner of the net. BAT scored their consolation goal with ten minutes remaining. A left side corner was headed onto the bar and a BAT player hammered home the rebound

With a couple of minutes remaining James Totczyk combined well with Phillips and after a nice one-two Totczyk's shot flew just over the bar.

Poole: Spillane, Richardson, Cherrett (Clarke), Whitley, White, Harris, Hogan, Knowles, S. Brown (Bartlett), Chivers (Totczyk), Phillips