Unfortunately Spillane, Taffy Richardson, Spalding, Ian Richardson, Alli Harris and Leigh Phillips were all absent so it was pretty much a makeshift side that took to the pitch for Poole.

Things got off to a bad start when a cross from the right was met by Graham Kemp and his header to safety only managed to find the corner of the Poole net - it was a great finish though! Even this however did not spur the team into action and it was a lethargic performance from Poole in the first half. Spurred on by this Hamble played some pretty good football and they simply wanted to win this match more than Poole did - credit to them.

On 33 minutes there was an excellent one-two down the left side of the Poole box and the runner was not picked up. After making the goaline he cut the ball back superbly and there was an excellent volley to put the home side two up. Unfortunately for the second match running players and supporters were graced with yet another awful referee. Whilst this subject always seems to come up so often there is no denying that yet again the referee here did his utmost to ruin a perfectly good game of football. Again, no bad tackles from either side yet nearly every name went in the book. Where do these people come from?

Towards the end of the half Poole finally woke up and started playing some football. On 41 minutes there was a good passing movement and Sean Hogan delivered a ball into Stuart Brown but his shot was comfortably saved. On 43 minutes Gary Funnell ended his season in the same fashion as he started it - with another great goal. He picked the ball up in his own half and simply accelerated away from a couple of challenges. As the Hamble players backed off he powered his way to the edge of the box and unleashed a cracking left foot shot which instantly found the bottom right hand corner of the net. A minute later and Funnell again did well on the left and fed the ball to Chivers but his shot was well saved. Half time: 2-1.

On 56 minutes the excellent Hogan again did well on the right and crossed in low to Chivers. His first touch was superb as he controlled the ball, turned and fired a shot which was pushed away for a corner. It was a better second half performance from Poole but Hamble defended well and deserved the win.

Madness of the day? On 82 minutes the referee clearly missed an offence on the pitch. Manager Tommy Killick shouted 'Open you eyes man!". That was it - no swearing and surely there is nothing wrong in shouting this? Of course the referee, probably feeling a little humiliated because a couple of supporters close by laughed, marched over and gave Killick a red card! Do they not realise how stupid this makes them look? Players on both sides as well as all the supporters just shook their heads in disbelief - there really is nothing else to say.

The biggest disappointment today was that following Poole's defeat, news came through that Poppies had beaten Hamworthy United 1-0 and therefore Poole slipped to a final league position of eighth. This takes nothing away from an excellent season overall though and credit must go to Tommy and all the players who have provided such fantastic entertainment over the course of the season. A cup final, Wessex League Cup semi final and 8th in Wessex 1 at their first attempt is a great achievement.

Poole: Mitchener, Whitley, Cherrett, ? (Bayston), Hogan, Kemp, Funnell, D. Sturgess (McCleod), White, Chivers (Totzyck), S. Brown

Unfortunately for Poole Gary Funnell was unavailable through suspension and there is no doubt that the Dolphins missed his guile and creativity in midfield. It was always going to be a close game as Hamworthy had shaded both league games this season and have proved to be Poole's bogey side.

On 16 minutes a clearance from keeper Spillane was poor and went straight to a Hamworthy player. His long range 40 yard effort went just wide of the post. Although Poole were the better side in the first half chances were few and far between. On 43 minutes a poor kick from the United keeper fell to Dave Sturgess but his shot went over the bar. Half time: 0-0.

The start of the second half proved to be the turning point of the game. Taffy Richardson got into a slight tussle with a Ham worthy player but there was nothing in it. The linesman saw differently however and immediately started flagging. After the referee got involved Richardson continually asked the Hamworthy player to come over and explain that there was nothing in it. With the United player turning his back on the situation the referee produced a straight red for Richardson and he was off. This was clearly ridiculous and summed up both the performance of the referee and the linesman who quite frankly were awful. The referee blew at every opportunity and produced a string of yellow cards throughout the match when there wasn't a bad tackle in the game. Although he was consistent, he was dreadful and completely ruined the Dorset showpiece.

On 50 minutes a left foot shot from Hamworthy was saved well low down by Spillane but with the man advantage Hamworthy slowly took control of the game. On 61 minutes there was a good move down the left and the final ball in was well finished into the corner to give the Hammers the lead.

Poole pushed forward and on 68 minutes a great ball in found Leigh Phillips and his header beat the keeper but cannoned back off the post and was cleared away to safety. Five minutes later and Hamworthy broke away again to make it 2-0.

It was quite obvious to all watching that the referee would try and even up the numbers if he could and sure enough on 81 minutes he sent the Hamworthy number 7 off for absolutely nothing - another ridiculous decision.

Deep into injury time there was a slight glimmer of hope for Poole as Phillips drilled home a fantastic shot from the edge of the box to pull a goal back but it was too late for Poole and within seconds Hamworthy had claimed the trophy.

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

With Wednesday night's Dorset Senior Cup Final in mind Tommy Killick made a full eleven changes to the starting line up for this game and full credit goes to everyone who came in as they recorded a fine win at Christchurch.

It was 0-0 at half time and the winning goal came on 60 minutes. Great work from Nick Kirby on the left ended with a fine cross to the far post and Dave Sturgess was on hand to force the ball home.

Poole: Mitchener, G. Reeves, Duggan, Spalding (Thomas), Bayston, Bartlett, Kirby, Reeks, Totzyck, D. Sturgess (McCleod), Chivers (P. Fisher)

This was always going to be a tight game and so it proved as there were few clear cut chances for either side. Thatcham had the early advantage and on just five minutes Paul Spillane, back from holiday, made two terrific point blank saves in succession and was relieved to see a third effort hit high over the bar.

Poole's first chance came on 16 minutes. A quick Funnell freekick sent Harris clear down the left and his cross found Stuart Brown two yards out but somehow the striker managed to scoop the ball over the bar. Both sides continued to cancel each other out but the deadlock was broken on 40 minutes. Funnell picked the ball up on the half way line and immediately looked up. After spotting the keeper on the edge of his box he unleashed a superb volley which dipped just under the bar in the top left corner - fantastic strike from all of fifty odd yards. Half time: 1-0.

The second half saw Thatcham try to get back into the game but in all honesty they never looked like scoring. As the y pushed forward towards the end of the half the gaps opened up in the Thatcham defence and Poole looked dangerous on the break and looked more likely to add to their tally. There was a welcome return from a lengthy suspension for Neal Spalding as he replaced Funnell with just a couple of minutes remaining.

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

This was an odd sort of game with neither side producing any sustained quality football. The start was very scrappy and for long periods it really looked like an end of season game with Poole looking as though they were going through the motions for a while. With Newbury not looking like scoring at all it was a bizarre own goal which gifted the visitors the lead. A long backpass from at least 35 yards out rolled harmlessly towards Mitchener and with no Newbury player within the Poole half, all supporters looked up the field as they awaited the kick out. Several seconds later however the ball had not arrived and on looking back towards goal there was a hushed silence as Mitchener was picking the ball out of the back of the net.

This did seem to stir Poole into action and on 20 minutes Chivers got free but saw his shot parried away for a corner. Two minutes later he was put into the exact same position and this time he successfully lobbed the keeper to level the score. On 37 minutes Poole took the deserved lead. Sean Hogan yet again provided a superb cross from the right and an unmarked Leigh Phillips thumped his header past the keeper. Half time: 2-1.

The second half was not the greatest forty five minutes from any angle but Poole did enough to make sure the all important three points stayed in Poole. On 55 minutes a right footed Funnell shot went just wide of the post. A minute later there was a scare at the back when a rare Taffy Richardson error allowed a Newbury player to go clear but the resulting shot went high over the bar.

On 68 minutes Ali Harris put together a fine run, cutting in from the left and hitting a good shot just wide of the right hand post. Ten minutes later substitute Ian Richardson made a great run to the goal line. His cross was met by Taffy but his header was denied by a point blank save from the keeper on the line.

Poole sealed the match on 84 minutes when a nice ball into the box saw Stuart Brown get in front of the keeper and flick a header over him to make it 3-1.

Poole: Mitchener, Hogan, Harris, Whitley, Cherrett, S. Brown, S. Richardson (White), Funnell, D. Sturgess, Phillips (Totzyck), Chivers  (I. Richardson)

Carl Chivers showed his pace early on and he had numerous great runs down the left hand side. On 2 minutes he just overran the ball after outpacing the defender and on 7 minutes he was sent clean through against the keeper but he hit his shot weakly into the keeper's arms. Two minutes later and Poole took their deserved lead - Phillips forced an error from the Gosport defender and after stealing the ball he rifled home his shot to put Poole one up.

This was a great opening spell from Poole and things got even better on 18 minutes. Funnell produced another superb run from the half way line and was eventually brought down right on the edge of the Gosport box. His freekick was fumbled at the near post by Barfoot in the Gosport goal and after Brown's follow up shot was blocked, Ollie Cherrett scored his second of the season as he scored from close range. His other goal this campaign? The away game at Gosport!

Poole continued to dominate the first half but were unable to add to their total. Half time: 2-0.

On 60 minutes Funnell saw another shot comfortably saved by the Gosport keeper. Gosport then enjoyed a period of good possession and a goal looked like it might be coming. Perhaps Poole were struggling because they are not used to having eleven players at this stage of the match?! Sure enough Gosport pulled a goal back on 69 minutes when John Guise hit a right foot shot beyond Bacchini into the bottom left hand corner of the net. This prompted the usual ridiculous comments from the Gosport bench towards Poole supporters which was somewhat strange seeing as they were still losing!

Poole were not to be denied however in this game and on 85 minutes they wrapped the points up. Both Hogan and Chivers beat the offside trap and Hogan arrowed in from the right hand side before firing a superb effort past Barfoot to make it 3-1. Joy for the Poole support, doubled only by seeing Alex Pike jumping up and down complaining about it not being given offiside, (and as he was completely in line with it he would have seen just how well Hogan had timed his run.)

Gosport's problems were compounded a minute later when the No. 11 Dyer picked up a second yellow and was sent off.

Again, Poole produced a strong display as they strive to finish as high as possible in Wessex 1 at their first attempt.

Poole: Bacchini, Hogan, Harris, Whitley, Cherrett, S. Brown (Bartlett), S. Richardson, Funnell, D. Sturgess, Phillips, Chivers  (Totzyck)