Whyton and Linaker broke quickly and contrived to scythe through the Poole back line on 27 minutes, forcing Ormerod into a fine save and a minute later Carmicheal was gifted a clear shot when Cann’s clearance landed at his feet but Ormerod smothered the ball as it skewered goalward. Poole survived the onslaught and for the last 10 minutes the play was more end to end. Cann’s long throw-ins were the main threat to Portland’s defence and they didn’t adjust to them throughout the game. On 38 minutes Dan sent one flying in which Skelton flicked on and Boyt only just grabbed it through a forest of red, white and blue shirts. Portland took the ball straight back up the other end and Ormerod made another save from a shot by Carmicheal. On 40 minutes Stu Gates broke solo again behind the Portland back line and worked in towards the area from the bye line, outpacing his marker. His shot nutmegged the left back but Boyt dropped on the ball like a stone to stop it easing inside the near post. Cann’s free kick one minute later was headed clear to Trefor Smith out wide, His cross found Skelton’s head but his contact was weak and the ball went wide. Suddenly, Poole were having their best spell and Cann’s long throw finally undid Portland. It was a huge effort which eluded Boyt’ s leap and the Portland defence as it headed for the far post. Osborne had read the ball flight and moved in for the toe punt home at the far post and Poole led. It was right on half-time and things were looking up.

Half-time 1-0

Portland may well have started the second half before Poole were out of the changing rooms, as our defence just didn’t show up for the first quarter of an hour, and by the time they did it was game set and match.

Doige equalised for Portland within a minute of the restart without Poole managing to string together a single pass. Carmicheal supplied the shot/cross in from wide near the half way line, Ormerod came out to catch it but then had to dive at it as it curled away from him. He got it but then lost his grip as he hit the floor and Doige was lurking totally unmarked to snap home the loose ball into an empty net from 7 yards.

More end to end play ensued, but a foul gave Portland a free kick some 35 yards out 10 minutes later. The ball curled round the wall and Carmicheal was on hand to punt it over the line in a copycat of the Poole goal. Portland led 2-1. Chas Culliford was immediately replaced by Shane Ayres as Tom rearranged the side for the counter, Skelton dropping into the middle of the back line between Luke and Ian. Poole won a free kick as Portland found a solution to stopping Ayres fresh legs, and Dan Cann swept the ball in not for the first (or last time) in the match. Boyt rose highest to punch it clear but only as far as Trefor, whose return shot went wide. With Ayres making an immediate impact, Tom threw on another set of fresh legs under Steve Smith for Osborne and Poole now looked to be getting back into it again. Portland made their first change with Lamb for Halloran on 66 minutes and their new sub looked to have sealed it when Poole were reduced to a shambles again as Whyton and Linaker played one-twos and set up Lamb for a perfect shot into the top corner from 15 yards that beat Ormerod’s dive. Portland led 3-1.

It could have been 4-1 a couple of minutes later as Poole‘s defence vanished again. Wython’s lob from 25 yards plopping into the back of the net from a cross in from wide. But the linesman’s flag went straight up and it was ruled offside. They got caught yet again on 75 minutes, Linaker ran onto a long ball from deep with our back line pushing up, but with just Ormerod to beat the Portland striker fired wide.
Portland were now really fired up as Poole tried everything to get back into the game. The attitude of the men in blue was exemplified by Lloyd Cranny who had a clash of heads with Ian Richardson in front of the Portland goal. The ref immediately stopped the game allowing the trainers on. Ian got up dazed but Cranny had to leave the field with blood all over his face from a cut on his head. Their sub was ready to come on, but Cranny would have none of it. He returned a minute later sporting a bandage around his head a la Terry Butcher. Their sub Aspin made it onto the pitch a few minutes later but for the lively Linaker, not Cranny.

Poole threw everything at the Portland goal in the last 10 minutes, but were allowed few shots as their opponents defended like lions. Gill’s shot went wide on 84 minutes and then a ray of hope as Trefor fired back in a rocket off a clearance from Cann’s corner that Boyt failed to stop. Portland led 3-2. On 86 minutes. John Litherland got the games only card for dissent following the goal.

When 4 minutes of added time was flashed on the handheld board, by the fourth official (we aren’t used to such luxuries), it was met with derision from the Portland supporters in the main stand who’d become very vocal in their excitement. Poole had corner after corner after throw-in, all delivered by Cann, but the ball would not oblige and when time ran out it was Portland that were celebrating. Worthy winners on the night 3-2 and Poole were lucky it wasn’t more really. Still being a Man City fan one is accustomed to these changes of fortune from one week to the next. We were beaten by a better prepared side of hungrier players who really wanted it. That’s football - Move on.

Any consolations? Yes, we have avoided playing the Charlestown Chiefs from Sherborne and haven’t had to go to that gfp at Shaftesbury at all for an entire season!

Poole: Ormerod, Whitley, I. Richardson, C. Culliford (Ayres), Saadi (Holmes), Cann, Skelton, Gill, T. Smith, Osborne (S. Smith), Gates

Games against Poppies are always close fought affairs and this was to prove no exception. They are a strong physical side marshalled well at the back by skipper Ollie Cherrett and Lamin Dibba.

The first half was a continuation of the game at Poppies earlier in the season (a 0-0 stalemate). Neither side looked like scoring as defences dominated at both ends. They simply cancelled each other out again and there was nothing of note for either side to get excited about. On 27 minutes a Dan Cann corner was met by a towering Ian Richardson header but a defender was on the line to clear the ball away. It was the closest either side came to breaking the deadlock in a tense and enjoyable first half.

Half time: 0-0.

With Poppies looking like they would happily take a draw it was down to Poole to come out in the second half and take the game to their opponents. This they did right from the off as they raised the tempo of the game and closed down on the Poppies players with renewed energy and determination. Another Cann corner from the right hand side on 46 minutes fell to Charlie Culliford but his free header went straight into the keeper's arms. He was clearly disappointed and rightly so - it could, and should, have been a goal. Poole's possession was much more fluid in the second half and on 53 minutes their efforts were rewarded. Trefor Smith set off on a typical darting run from the halfway line and as he accelerated into the box he was tripped and a penalty was given. There was no protests from the Poppies player - it was clear cut. Skipper Ian Richardson stepped up and slotted the penalty home to record his 16th goal of the season. There has been much speculation on the internet in recent days about the best centre back in the Wessex League. If Lamin Dibba is the best, as many believe, then that makes Ian Richardson 2nd at best - and personally I don't think he rates as low as that. Nobody could play better than he has this season.

With Poole now in front it was down to Poppies to try to get back into the game and manager James Wood immediately made tactical changes on the pitch. The Poole defence was not going to be breached today however and to be fair Poppies never looked like scoring. Both Richardson and Luke Whitley were brilliant at the back but man of the match for me was Aaron Skelton sitting just in front of them. His performance was superb from start to finish as he broke up the play time and time again. His quality on the ball creates space other players can only dream about and he produced a passing masterclass as well as he set up so many of Poole's attacks down both flanks. Everything ticked through Skelton - it was a pleasure to watch.

Poppies only half chance came on 70 minutes when a shot from the edge of the box sailed high over the Poole bar. As time ticked down so Poole remained in charge and whilst they probed for the second goal they never left themselves exposed to the counter attack. On 90 minutes Trefor Smith produced another good run into the box. His left foot shot saw the keeper commit to a dive and when the shot rebounded off a defender Stuart Brown was on hand to place the ball into an empty net. It was no more than the team deserved on the day.

Best performance in quite a while and a very important result. A break from the intensity of the league follows on Tuesday as Poole attempt to reach another Dorset Senior Cup Final.

Poole: Arthur, Whitley, I. Richardson, C. Culliford, Saadi, Cann, Skelton (Osborne), Gill, T. Smith, S. Smith (Hogan), Brown

No Skelton or Yelland available meant that Charles Culliford made his first full start for Poole. Ben Osborne returned for the unavailable Stuart Brown up front.

A bright start from Poole saw Kevin Gill lively early on and Fawzi Saadi too looked 'up for it' in the early exchanges. Hamble made their intentions clear from the start with nearly everyone behind the ball most of the time. As early as the 4th minute and the visiting keeper started taking an age to play the ball out or take his goalkicks. Despite protests from on and off the pitch the referee seemed oblivious to the tactics (one minute was added to the first half when five would not have been unreasonable).

On 17 minutes Hamble fashioned the first decent chance when a corner was scrambled off the Poole line and on 28 minutes a cross into the Poole area found two players completely unmarked but fortunately for the Dolphins the header was aimed straight into Harvell's arms. Poole's main chance of the first half came on the half hour mark when a Dan Cann freekick curled wide of the keeper but came back off the post.

Half time: 0-0.

Despite the goalless half time score there was no reason for Poole to press the panic button yet. They had played pretty well in the first half and it was just a case of breaking down the defensive play of Hamble. On 49 minutes Osborne was released and raced away but his shot from the edge of the box beat the keeper but cannoned back off the post and was cleared. Sustained pressure from Poole followed and eventually the deadlock was broken on 55 minutes. The ball was crossed brilliantly into the box and Steve Smith made it three goals in three games with a flashing header which found the bottom left corner of the net. His 'lean' spell seems to be well and truly over and he is showing a lot of confidence again.

On 64 minutes Dan Cann was nudged in the box and without any appeals from a Poole player the referee awarded what was, admittedly, a very soft penalty. The Hamble keeper certainly thought so and sprinted towards the referee (the quickest he moved all night!). His verbal attack earnt him a straight red card and with no substitute keeper an outfield player took over in goal. Ian Richardson dispatched the penalty and Poole were two goals up and cruising.

Dan Cann added another assist on 73 minutes when his cross was met by a sliding Andy Culliford who tucked the ball past the keeper. Poole were totally in charge and Ayres, Fisk and Trembath (another youth player) came on for Trefor Smith, Steve Smith and Ian Richardson.

The only disappointment of the night came in the last fifteen minutes when Poole could and should have added more goals. With no recognised keeper in the visitors goal they just needed to hit the target but they failed to do this as shots went high or wide and all too often they over played it around the box instead of 'going for the kill'.

A good performance nonetheless and a first clean sheet in the league since Boxing Day. Now a huge game at home to Poppies follows on Saturday - it will also be manager Tom Killick's 150th game in charge of Poole Town.

Poole: Harvell, Whitley, I. Richardson (Trembath), C. Culliford, Saadi, Cann, A. Culliford, Gill, T. Smith (Ayres), S. Smith (Fisk), Osborne

Kevin Gill is continuing to impress as he settles into the side and he caused Romsey a number of problems all afternoon. Straight from the kick-off he was fed the ball on the right and his great cross was met by Steve Smith but the shot went wide. On 6 minutes Cann played Steve Smith in down the left and after he had cut in he unselfishly pulled the ball back to Stuart Brown but with the goal at his mercy the striker failed to take a necessary touch and the ball flew high over the bar.

On 12 minutes a Romsey player was brought down in the Poole area and there was no complaints when the referee awarded a penalty. Harvell has been brilliant since his signing before Christmas and he dived low to his right to save and hold on to the resulting kick. Still Poole looked the better side but the first goal just wouldn't come for them. On 28 minutes Brown nodded the ball down for Cann and his first time volley went just wide.

Eventually Poole got the breakthrough. Dan Cann curled a great freekick into the box and Brown rose unchallenged to glance a header into the left hand corner. If Poole supporters thought the floodgates would now open they were left stunned just five minutes later when a Romsey player was allowed to run free into the box and he finished clinically past Harvell. The lead was thrown away.

Half time: 1-1.

The first half had been a pretty poor 45 minutes of football. Romsey were not a good side and Poole were constantly dropping to their level. Things had to improve in the second half and they did. On 48 minutes a corner from the left wasn't cleared and following a few touches it was Kevin Gill who bundled the ball over the line to record his first goal for the Dolphins. Romsey hit back and had a couple of really good opportunities to equalise immediately but both shots went wide.

On 66 minutes Kevin Gill again did well out by the corner flag and his cross to the back post was nodded back across the face of the goal by Ian Richardson and Steve Smith was on hand to tap in Poole's third of the game. Three minutes later and Saadi passed to substitute Culliford on the left. His cross avoided several people before Stuart Brown slid in to score his second of the game.

Biggest cheer of the game was reserved for Hogan who came on for Cann on 73 minutes. It really is fantastic to have him back in the side so soon - it's like signing a new player. Despite Romsey pulling one back on 86 minutes it was Hogan who had the final say when he nipped into the box in injury time, got a great first touch to control the ball and then placed it beyond the keeper to make the final score 5-2 to Poole.

Poole: Harvell, Whitley, I. Richardson, Yelland, Saadi, Cann (Hogan), Holmes (A. Culliford), Gill, T. Smith, S. Smith, Brown (Ayres)

As is usually the case this season Poole Town made a very good start to the game as they got the ball down and played some neat football . The opening goal came on six minutes. Dan Cann launched a long throw to the near post and Stuart Brown cleverly chipped the ball to the back post where skipper Ian Richardson rose to head home his 14th goal of the season.

Instead of spurring the Poole boys on the goal seemed to introduce more of the poor football we have seen a bit too much of lately. The passing seemed to go awry all too often and New Milton, vastly improved since the start of the season, began to match Poole across the park. On 23 minutes a simple clearance up the field by the home keeper was headed on and a New Milton striker raced away, rounded Harvell and slotted the ball home to level the game up.

The match was now very even with few clear cut chances for either side. On 35 minutes Osborne held the ball up well and then set up Kevin Gill but his shot was blocked away for a corner. The first half ended in stalemate and all in all it was a pretty drab forty five minutes.

Half time: 1-1.

Whatever the content of the half time team talk Poole finally woke up in the second half and got back to playing some really good football. On 46 minutes Poole got a freekick on the right side of the pitch. Dan Cann provided a perfect delivery, curling the ball in towards the keeper who failed to get to it. With a number of bodies in the six yard box the ball broke to Aaron Skelton and he bundled it over the line to score his first goal of the season and Poole were back in front. Just a minute later and the lead was extended to two. Trefor Smith weaved his magic down the right touchline and then cut in before chipping the keeper and finding the top left corner of the net - a superb goal.

To their credit back came New Milton Town. On 52 minutes another innocuous ball into the Poole area saw both Yelland and Whitley sucked in towards it and when the ball broke left a New Milton player had acres of space but still finished with a fantastic left foot strike which rocketed in off the underside of the bar - Harvell had no chance.

If New Milton felt they still had a chance in the game, this was effectively snuffed out after just another five minutes. Trefor again did well on the right and played the ball towards the corner flag. Stuart Brown did very well to even get to the ball but his first time cross was terrific and Fawzi Saadi ghosted into the box to clip the ball past the keeper - his first goal of the season.

Poole were now well in charge and the passing and movement was so much more accurate and sharper. Suddenly they looked hungry. The fifth goal came on 72 minutes. Ben Osborne delivered a fantastic pass with the outside of his right foot, cutting the defence apart and sending Stuart Brown racing away on goal. He ran the entire length of the New Milton half and as the keeper began to advance he coolly slotted the ball past him into the net, a goal and two assists capping a great game from the South African.

With the points secured manager Tom Killick rang the changes as Skelton, Brown and Whitley were replaced by Ayres, Steve Smith and Charles Culliford respectively. Shane Ayres in particular looked very lively in the last fifteen minutes and caused New Milton a number of problems down the right hand side.

A much better performance from Poole in the second half gave them the deserved three points and with Totton, Poppies and VT all dropping two points there really is little to choose between the top five sides.

Poole: Harvell, Whitley (C. Culliford), I. Richardson, Yelland, Saadi, Cann, Skelton (Ayres), Gill, T. Smith, Brown (S. Smith), Osborne

Report Courtesy of Ian Claxton - Matchday Programme

Oh dear! On a lousy Tuesday evening with high winds and squalls of heavy rain, Poole were beaten by Fareham for the second time in four days and squelched, slithered and slipped out of the Wessex League Cup in the process. The pitch was a mess with standing water in the centre circle at the start and looked like something we used to see on Brian Moore’s Big Match back in the deep winters of the Seventies. As a result this was never going to be a great game and the result would very much be in the lap of the gods, as passes fell short with the ball stuck in the mud and the any bounces became a thing of memory.

Both teams made the best of it however and the football went from end to end for long periods throughout the first half, with chances falling at each end. A goalmouth scramble in Fareham’s area on 10 minutes nearly had the Dolphins ahead, and only Webber’s smothering of the ball on his own goal line averted the score. On 20 minutes, Simon Stone out paced Will Spetch on the right and raced towards the Poole area. Tong charged out, but Stone got off his shot, which went under Tong’s dive and careered across the Poole goal clearing the far post into touch. It was the about the only slip-up the young Under-18 Spetch made all evening in his first team debut. Poole had won a free kick a few yards outside the Fareham area a couple of minutes later, which Dan Cann curled round the wall and in low at the keeper’s feet. But Webber caught it with ease. Cann’s next effort on 27 minutes was more challenging and forced Webber to punch the free-kick away for a corner.

Fareham went close again on the half-hour and had three crosses into Poole 6 yard area in quick succession which sorely tested the Dolphins defence, before they managed to scramble the ball into touch. The home side had sensed a breakthrough and had pushed forward in numbers for the corner, but the visitors clearance upfield caught them out and Trefor Smith picked up the long ball flicked it over one defender on the halfway line and set off goalwards. With one Fareham lad desperately trying to hold Trefor up in the area, Trefor slipped the pass into Ben Osborne with a clear shot at goal, but Ben had drifted offside and the chance sank in the mud. Poole were back 4 minutes later and Osborne fired in a cross aimed at the gathering of Poole heads at the far post, But Webber out-leaped everyone to pluck the ball down. Poole had other shots go wide from Cann and Trefor Smith but at half time the tie remained scoreless.

Half time: 0-0

No substitutions were made at half time, they would have easily been spotted in clean kit against their mud caked team mates! But it was Fareham who now made the stronger start. They had a rocket of a 40 yard free kick go just wide on 52 minutes, and had the play mostly in the Poole half for the first 5 minutes or so. Poole got back into the game though and other than Aaron Skelton’s shot wide from 25 yards on 54 minutes, there was little activity in either goalmouth for the next quarter of an hour as the game started to bog down in midfield. Chris Smith picked up a yellow for a ‘late’ sliding tackle on 56 minutes that was very harsh considering the conditions. The game changed completely on the two-thirds mark however. Ian Richardson’s long ball forward was flicked on by Ben Osborne, who had finally worked his way into a goal scoring position having been tightly marked all game, but the ball clattered into the post and slithered tantalisingly across the 6-yard box before being cleared. Fareham won a corner straight from that clearance. As the ball crossed through the Poole’s 6 yards box it was met by Dan Turner’s charging header and they went 1-0 up.

Poole now had to chase the game and Fareham seemed content to defend strongly first and attack on the break. Tom threw on fresh legs as the time ticked by and the effort of the team became more desperate. Will Spetch had a fine debut at left back but was exchanged for Steve Smith’s attacking option, followed by Ayres for Yelland and finally Skelton was replaced by Saadi as Poole throw everyone forward, but there were few shots on goal as Fareham won everything in their box and Webber remained solid. Again the plan started to come unravelled as impatience and desperation crept in and Richardson and Yelland picked up cards. Poole looked to have got the equaliser on 86 minutes, when Shane Ayres blistering shot was parried away for a corner. But a poorly taken corner allowed the hosts to clear quickly Poole got caught with the fast break Luke held up the unidentifiable Fareham forward (some numbers were obliterated by mud and rain, by this time) for as long as possible but his pass to Middleton was spot on and Middleton’s unchallenged shot gave Tong no chance. It was a copycat of Trefor and Ben’s ‘what might have been’ in the first half. Poole saved their best shots until the last few minutes and Saadi, Steve Smith and Ayres had a handful between them but they all went wide or over.

There is an old saying “that It’s never over till the fat lady sings” well the Fareham choirboys had the last laugh and were singing still at the end. It was a desperately disappointing result despite a much better Poole performance than on Saturday. But Fareham were still in the cup at the end of the night and our goal scoring form has deserted us once more. Apart from it’s brief return that saw four go in against Romsey we haven’t scored since the away game at Lymington on January 5th , one month ago.

Next up, New Milton away, and Trevor Parker is working a minor miracle with the Linnets, as this evening they drew praise and a huge sigh of relief from Poppies’ manager James Woods after his side scraped to a hard fought 3-2 win over the much improved Forest side at Victoria Park.

Poole: Tong, Whitley, I. Richardson, Yelland (Ayres), Spetch (S. Smith), Cann, C. Smith, Skelton (Saadi), T. Smith, Gill, Osborne

After just four appearances (1 league, 1 League Cup and 2 Vase) recent signing Mark Robinson has decided to leave the club to take an 'extended break' from football.

Ryan Hill has, as expected, taken up the offer to join Farnborough Town with immediate affect. Hill never appeared in Poole colours after his signing just a couple of weeks ago.

Kevin Gill has signed from Gosport Borough. Gill was previously with Hamworthy United and was one of Alex Pike's first signings when he took over at Gosport. Versatile midfielder.

Charles Culliford (cousin of Andy) has also joined. He is with the Army and is currently based at Blandford. Centre back.

News

The Poole Town Ladies now have their own website and a link is on the left hand menu. You can also visit it here.

Pictures

The match pictures from the Romsey Town game last Tuesday are now available via the link on the left hand menu.

Poole Town  0 - 1  Fareham Town  -  Sydenhams (Wessex) Premier League

The first league game for Poole Town for three weeks brought Fareham Town to Tatnam. The Dolphins have won at Fareham on the last three occasions and Fareham have won the last two games at Tatnam - an omen that was sadly to be fulfilled during the afternoon.

With Mark Robinson having gone, Fawzi Saadi made a rare start for Poole and Kevin Gill made his debut for the club partenering Ben Osborne up front. Steve Smith started on the bench once again along with new signing Charles Culliford.

This was an extremely poor game from a Poole perspective and therefore there is little to report in terms of action. In recent weeks the Town have struggled to score against good defences (Totton and Consett albeit with two own goals) and Fareham were also too good at the back for Poole. Since their dreadful start to the season Fareham are almost certainly the most improved side during the course of this season and they are now a solid, decent outfit.

Fareham's winner came as early as the eighth minute. A quick break caught Poole asleep at the back and after Harvell had made a great save from an initial shot Spurway was on hand to take a touch and volley the ball into an empty net. This failed to provide any incentive to Poole as although they had a good amount of possession they simply didn't know what to do with it.

On 21 minutes Fareham should have been two up. The defence were caught out again and a cross from the right found a Fareham player free and just four yards out but he totally missed the ball and the chance was gone.

Half time: 0-1.

Shane Ayres and Steve Smith replaced Trefor Smith (injured) and Osborne at half time but in truth it made little difference to the game. On 48 minutes Fareham broke again and the number 10 fired just wide. Poole did create a chance on 63 minutes. Andy Culliford headed forwards and then lobbed the ball over the defence before Steve Smith took a touch and fired wide of the left hand post.

Despite not needing a second goal Fareham had a great opportunity right at the end to double their lead. Another break saw a clear one on one with Harvell but the attacker blasted high and wide when a goal looked certain.

A worrying game this. Poole just seemed to have nothing about them today at all. There was no 'spark' that there usually is and again, without Taffy Richardson and Aaron Skelton there, things seem to go a little flat. Their play today was lacking in any sort of quality and was, ultimately, predictable - the Dolphins would not have scored if the match carried on all evening. Credit to Fareham - they came and did a good job but Poole need to find some answers on Tuesday at Fareham if they are to avoid a second cup exit in ten days.

Poole: Harvell, Whitley, I. Richardson, Yelland, Cann, C. Smith, A. Culliford, Saadi (C. Culliford), T. Smith (Ayres), Gill, Osborne (S. Smith)