Poole's ninth home league game from the twelve so far saw high flying Romsey Town visit Tatnam for their first league meeting in three years.
Aaron Skelton and Trefor Smith both started the game after their substitute appearances the week before and Stuart Brown was given the nod up front alongside Karim Benssaouda as Steve Smith dropped to the bench.

As has happened so many times this season Poole were very quick out of the blocks. In fact, I'd go as far as to say that the first half was probably the best sustained forty five minutes of football I have seen Poole produce since starting this website on my return to the UK some eight years ago. They were, quite simply, brilliant and the half time scoreline of 4-0 actually flattered Romsey. It's probably fair to say that at half time it is unlikely that Romsey knew what had hit them in that first period.

Poole took the lead as early as the fifth minute. A quick long throw from Dan Cann saw both Benssaouda and Ian Richardson race away from the static defence. Benssaouda's shot was parried by the keeper but Ian Richardson had plenty of time to collect the rebound and thump the ball home. No lessons were learnt by the Romsey defence and five minutes later another long throw from Cann was flicked on by Taffy Richardson and Benssaouda was able to turn and hook the ball home from close range. Two nil, ten minutes gone and to all intents and purposes, game over.

Great play again on the left on 17 minutes saw a superb cross into the box but the ball just eluded the outstretched leg of Stuart Brown at the far post. Two minutes later and Poole produced a move of at least 12 - 15 passes right from Frampton at the back. Eventually the ball was threaded through to Benssaouda and with only the keeper to beat he was hacked down from behind. It was the clearest penalty decision you could ever see but the referee waved play on - a very bad decision which you can assume he only made because a) Romsey would have gone three down and b) he would have had no choice but to send the defender off.

Another poor decision followed on 25 minutes. A bullet freekick from Cann was punched straight up into the air by the keeper. Luke Whitley with his eyes on the ball actually outjumped the keeper as the ball came down, there was no contact yet the referee felt he had to award a freekick for an infringement on the goalie - ridiculous.

The pace of the Poole play was absolutely frenetic at this point with pinpoint accurate passes being played all over the pitch. The pressure on the Romsey defence was relentless and the only certainty was more goals. On 31 minutes there was again a great passing move up the left hand side. Benssaouda flicked the ball brilliantly into Taffy Richardson and after running back round him and receiving a clever reverse pass which left the defence looking the wrong way, Benssaouda hammered in his second of the game.

Three minutes later and a Funnell thunderbolt was handled in the box and despite Benssaouda's wishes to complete his hat-trick the right decision was made as manager Tom Killick pointed to Ian Richardson to take the kick. He scored his second and Poole's fourth from the spot.

Just before the break Trefor Smith played a nice ball into Benssaouda and he turned and unleashed a rocket which narrowly went over the bar.

Half time: 4-0.

Dorchester Town's Uzo Opara came on for Aaron Skelton for the start of the second half. Poole continued where they had left off and within 60 seconds of the restart they had a shot blocked on the goaline and Stuart Brown followed up only to see his shot cleared of the line as well.

Almost inevitably the pace of the game did drop and this allowed Romsey to come into it a little more. On 58 minutes they broke down the right hand side and a terrific cross to the back post was met by a Romsey player who looped a header over Frampton into the corner of the net. 4-1.

Killick made more changes as the half wore on - Steve Smith replacing Benssaouda on 62 minutes and Andy Culliford replacing Hogan just three minutes later. On 73 minutes Poole restored their four goal cushion. A Taffy Richardson corner was cleared only to Stuart Brown and he headed the ball back to the far post where substitute Culliford was on hand to head home from close range. With time running out Trefor Smith made a great run from the right cutting in along the edge of the box before hitting a weak shot which having been blocked, fell to Steve Smith who hammered the ball in from five yards.

The final goal fell to Romsey in injury time when a freekick played into the box managed to sneak through a mass of players before nestling in the far corner. The final word came from Poole though as from the restart the ball played was played to Funnell inside the centre circle and he produced a magnificent shot which saw the keeper back peddling before just getting up well to tip the dipping ball just over the bar. It would have been a great goal to finish and something Poole supporters have seen a couple of times from Funnell in previous years.

A terrific performance and result to keep Poole firmly in control at the top of the table.

Poole: Frampton, Whitley, I. Richardson, Funnell, Skelton (Opara), Hogan (Culliford), Cann, T. Smith, S. Richardson, Benssaouda (S. Smith), Brown

Bournemouth Poppies Youth  2 - 4  Poole Town Youth

Goals for Will Robinson, Jordan Fisk and Sean Gallagher (2).
Attendance 78.

Poole Town Youth will now be at home to winners of Salisbury City V Eastleigh, date to be confirmed.

Report courtesy of Match Programme

Poole lined up for their latest home game with an unchanged starting 11 and an ultra strong bench.
The visitors worked hard to deny Poole time and space and stop the free following football. The ploy worked and chances were few and far between in the 1st period, in fact the visitors carved open their own opportunities and Max Frampton had to work harder than ever this season. The best chance did in fact come Poole’s way in the 1st period when Steve Smith on 17 minutes hit what looked like a goal bound effort all the way from 6 yards out but the keeper denied him with a fine save. The keeper also tipped over a Steve Smith header on 37 minutes as Poole managed to apply some pressure and just afterwards Taffy Richardson headed just over.

Half Time: 0 – 0

Changes came at half time with Trefor Smith and Aaron Skelton replacing Chris Smith and Danny Steer. Poole slowly rolled into gear and finally on 64 minutes they made the break through. A tremendous run by Trefor Smith from the right wing took him past the Alton defence and into the penalty box, he fired low past the keeper, 1 – 0.
On 70 minutes Karim Benssaouda was on the end of a Dan Cann cross to make it 2 – 0. Then on 76 minutes, Dan Cann finished matters off with his own individual goal finishing low into bottom left hand corner, 3 – 0.

Not as clear cut as in previous weeks, Alton worked hard and created a couple of late opportunities but were out on their feet come the end and 3 more points had come Poole’s way.

Poole: Frampton, Whitley, I. Richardson, Funnell, Steer (Skelton), Hogan, Cann, C. Smith (T. Smith), S. Richardson (Culliford), Benssaouda, S. Smith

Poole were missing a few players for this rare away game with no Stuart Brown, Andy Culliford, Stuart Cannie or Trefor Smith. Striker Steve Smith therefore started alongside Karim Benssaouda and given Smith's goalscoring record thus far it is hard to see how he could be relegated to the bench at the moment. The Poole bench comprised of Dave Sturgess, Jordan Fisk and manager Tom Killick. Full marks to Fareham on their pitch - it was a superb surface and would certainly have encouraged Poole's passing game.

This was another good solid performance from Poole which was again built on a very good defence - certainly the most settled and solid the defence has looked in years. There is no question that Ian Richardson and Luke Whitley are the rocks at the back and whoever slots in next to them (Skelton, Steer, Hogan etc) have all worked seamlessly together to put up a united front. So it was again tonight as most Fareham attacks were dealt with comfortably at the back.

A bright opening from both sides saw play go from one end to the other. Fareham forced a few corners and on just nine minutes both keeper Max Frampton and the Fareham number 9 received yellow cards for handbags prior to the taking of a corner.

Poole were soon back on the attack and on 11 minutes, after a series of shots on the Fareham goal, the ball broke to Steve Smith around the penalty spot and his shot found the back of the net after the home keeper had made a bit of a hash of saving it.

While Poole played the much better football and enjoyed the majority of possession the game did not look settled at just 1-0. Remaining chances in the first half were few and far between but Fareham gave the ball away far too easily and this allowed Poole to hit on the break and the Dolphins always looked dangerous going forwards. On 33 minutes a Poole corner was dropped by the keeper and Taffy Richardson had a volley just over the bar.

Half time: 0-1.

With Poole fans discussing the need for a second goal during the break, their fears were nearly realised immediately after the restart when Fareham broke down the left and a left foot shot was just grabbed by Frampton as he lay full stretched, clinging on! Poole soon killed the game when they scored two goals in as many minutes soon after. On 53 minutes Cann (yet again) produced the cross of the match - a brilliant ball whipped in from the left and there was Steve Smith to head home - albeit the keeper will probably be disappointed again not to keep it out. There was no such chance for him two minutes later - Taffy Richardson knocked a quick corner into the box and Karim Benssaouda rose to thump a header high into the corner. Game over.

In fairness to Fareham they never gave up on the game and they continued to try hard to cause Poole problems. On 65 minutes a Fareham player beat Frampton to the ball, rounded him and then squared it to a team-mate. His shot however, was deflected away for a corner by Ian Richardson who had done well to get back and cover the goal line. The resulting corner found two Fareham players unmarked in the box but they both got in each other's way and the header went sailing over the bar.

A minute later and the Fareham number 9 clattered into Sean Hogan with a heavy tackle and the number 3 then proceeded to walk on the prone Hogan after the event. The centre forward received a second yellow and therefore red card and the full back was booked as well.

Changes were made on both sides. Sturgess replaced Funnell in the Poole midfield and one of Fareham's subs Dale Field (number 16?) in particular caused Poole more problems than any other player - his speed and trickery down the left flank was impressive.

On 76 minutes Chris Smith blocked a shot with his hand in the box and the referee awarded a penalty which was duly thumped in to give Fareham their consolation.

The match finished with Poole on the attack. A Cann corner was played short to Benssaouda and after receiving it back Cann unleashed a fierce shot which the keeper did well to turn around the post.

Poole: Frampton, Whitley, I. Richardson, Funnell (Sturgess), Steer, Hogan, C. Smith, S. Richardson, Cann, Benssaouda, S. Smith

Full report to follow.

Poole: Frampton, Whitley, I. Richardson, Funnell (Saadi), Steer, Hogan, C. Smith (Cann), T. Smith (Culliford), S. Richardson, Benssaouda, S. Smith

Report courtesy of Ian Claxton.

League cup time .. must be Verwood! But this year up at their ground and for the honour of playing in the first game under their new floodlights.

A sizable Poole travelling crowd made the trip into the wilds of the Dorset /Hampshire border country to see a very different looking Dolphins side take to the pitch as Tom gave season debut starts to Dave Sturgess and Danny Steer and had the returning Fawzi Saadi on the bench. Big Max was unavailable (rumour has it Wednesday is his knitting circle club night) so last night’s U-18’s hero, Adam Tong stepped between the sticks to fill Max’s sizable boots. For a lad who’s still 16 he gave a fine performance and barely put a foot wrong all night and the huge grin on his boat-race didn’t drop all evening!. Poole’s strike partner double act for the evening were the two Stuarts, Brown and Cannie.

Verwood gave us a tough game last year back at the Tatnam and it took most of that evening to break them down and start getting some goals and so it was again up at Potterne Park. Not that Poole didn’t have their chances, Verwood’s keeper Dan Fawcett had a very good game making fine and excellent saves from the Poole strike force when they were on target, but there were many that went high and wide, Stu Brown and Gary Funnell having particular trouble keeping the ball under the treeline! Fawcett made a point blank save from Stu Cannie in the fifth minute when the Poole lad only had the keeper to beat and a rocket from Dave Sturgess in the eighth. Two more quickly followed as Poole pressed for the first 20 odd minutes. Verwood were quick to break on a couple of occasions; on 9 minutes, Dan Goodhall was given too much space and fired a high lob at the Poole net that the alert Tong did very well to turn over the crossbar and a mix up between Richardson and Hogan allowed Peter King to ghost in on 34 minutes and go one to one with the young Poole keeper. Tong came out to quickly as the ‘book’ suggests ‘ but King side footed the ball under his dive only to see it clatter into the post and back into play were Hogan was quickest to it, to clear. It was a wake up call for the visitors who were lacking their accustomed dominant form and could have been considered lucky to be going in at half-time at 0-0.

Poole attack again early in the second half, Andy Culliford Stu Cannie, Dave Sturgess and Stu Brown all mixing it with the Verwood defence. Gary Funnell opened the second half with a sprint down the left and blasted a curling cross that skimmed over the bar from 30 yards out. Stu Brown sliced a good chance over a few minutes later but the pressure was now firmly on the home side although from quite where the goal was going to come was uncertain. When Stu Cannie won a freekick on 66 mins, Funnell stepped up and fired a rocket on target that surely was a cert, but Fawcett saved brilliantly again. Again Verwood still managed to mount their own strikes and both Tom Freeman and Dan Goodall went close. Finally Tom went to the bench to make changes. Karim replaced Stu Cannie, Steve Smith came on for Stu Brown and Fawzi Saadi for Andy Culliford, all in the space of 10 minutes and boy what a difference it made. We all know the old and well worn jokes about flooding the pitch to bring on the sub, well Admiral Tom sent on a `Wolf-pack’ this time and Verwood got torpedoed good and proper.

Karim played in Steve Smith in the centre of the box on 82 minutes, but the goalhunter’s first touch was to lay the ball straight out to namesake Trefor on the right edge of the area, just as we were thinking he’d dropped a clanger by picking the wrong move, Trefor, beat his marker to the inside and lobbed the stranded Fawcet, the ball plopping into the far side netting to score. Finally 1-0! and from Trefor! Brilliant. However they weren’t done yet and on 86 minutes Fawzi Saadi, playing just behind the frontmen, where I think he is happiest (but what do I know?) pushed a sweet ball through a gaggle of Verwood defenders who thought they’d got him boxed in, for Karim to pick up and blast into the top corner beyond Fawcett for the second goal. A minute later and it was Karim’s turn to become supplier when he picked up a long ball out wide to the left and turned inside his marker with ease. He then picked out the goal hunter Smith on the far side of the box with a low cross which Steve was never going to miss. Final Score 3-0

Verwood never knew what hit them as Poole looked comfortable winners on paper 3-0. But for 80 minutes it could have gone either way and few would have expected the eventual scoreline with 10 to go.
Next Round: We play at Home v Brockenhurst who convincingly, in both scoreline and play, defeated AFC Portchester 5-1 the previous night.

Game notes - ( a bit of fun as I know zip about football, I support Man City after all!)
We’ve heard it a number of times from our opponents defensemen that Karim is a nightmare to play against, his awkward looking style and total unpredictability working in his favour. Equally though, the fact that you never know what he is going to do next, ( I have a pet theory that even the lad himself doesn’t know what he’s going to do next, half the time!) can work against his own team mates too and is born out by his often seen ‘scarecrow’ gesture, that follows a break down in play, particularly with his strike partners who he obviously considers are not on the same wavelength as himself - with one exception. In the brief glimpses we’ve seen Karim and Steve Smith up front together, they are dynamite. Whether Steve’s young legs and agility is the trick or that young Smithy is actually on Karim’s wavelength (a frightening prospect for the lad from a medical point of view!) is unclear but it seems to work and against Verwood it came home in spades.

Poole: Tong, Hogan, Whitley, I. Richardson, Funnell, Sturgess, Culliford (Saadi), T. Smith, S. Richardson, Brown (S.Smith), Cannie (Benssaouda)

Report courtesy of Ian Claxton.

Poole travelled to the furthest(?) venue in the division for our second away game of the season, all the way over on Hayling Island to the new ground of newly promoted United. With Aaron Skelton still out injured and Dan Cann suspended, Tom had Taffy drop back into the centre of the defence, flanked by Luke and Ian Richadson with Chris Smith floating in front. Sean Hogan returned to roam the right flank while Trefor switched out wide left and Stuart Brown partnered Karim up from with Gary Funnell and Andy Culliford in support.

Hayling’s tidy little ground was bathed in summer sunshine for this fixture which saw both teams make lively starts despite the heat. Early exchanges were a bit on the brutal side, with neither side having the upper hand as the Humbugs matched Poole’s early pace. Karim had an early opportunity to open the scoring for the visitors when Trefor Smith streaked down the left wing and crossed the ball to the centre of the area. Andy Culliford and Karim both wound up on the same piece of real estate with Karim getting a piece of both the ball and Andy, leaving the old maestro needing Dick’s magic sponge to restore life to his ankle. On 11 minutes Taffy’s quickly taken free-kick on the halfway line was inch perfect for Karim’s header into the goal but for the brilliant hands of Hayling’s huge stand-in keeper Mike Byrne who snatched the ball away just prior to Karim’s contact. At the other end, Hayling’s best effort came when they gained a free kick on the edge of Poole’s area on the quarter hour mark. Kevin Hayward sliced it around the wall at the near post and brought a fine save from Max at full stretch to fingertip it round the upright. Poole were starting to gain an edge although Max had far more to do this game than in the previous couple of matches. On 20 minutes, Funnell broke fast down the right and centred the ball to Karim on the penalty spot, his turn and smash cannoned off the left post and back into play for Andy Culliford to chase down and flip back in, but Byrne’s safe hands saw off the immediate threat.

But the warning had been served and on 26 minutes, Poole found the opening and Karim was through it and onto a long pass in from the wing. He beat his marker and nut-megged Byrne to score. Poole lead 1-0. Poole pressed for the second and on the half-hour had won a corner. Funnell floated the ball in and Byrne’s jump was higher than Stu Brown and the big keeper punched the ball clear, but only as far as Sean Hogan on the edge of the area, who wound up a rocket that streamed into the net. Poole 2-0. Hayling’s heads slumped and the remainder of the half saw the home side virtually under siege in their own half. Gary Funnell had a free kick cannon of the defensive wall and Stu Brown had a header from a corner and a shot from 25 yards both go over as the Dolphins looked to kill the game off. Despite an extra 5 minutes played in the half the Humbugs held on till the break.

Half-Time 2-0

Poole struck early in the second half when on 51 minutes Ian Richardson sent a through ball for Karim to chase. Mike Byrne set out from his goal in pursuit as well and just beat Karim to it, to clear. But the ball came out to Stu Brown who chipped it back into the top right-hand corner of the net over the prostrate Byrne.

With a 3-0 lead and the heat of the day, understandably Poole started to take their foot of the gas for periods. Hayling had come out second half charged up again and the scrappy midfield play once more ensued. Substitutions from both sides added to the general mayhem as the sides re adjusted to accommodate the fresh legs. There were chances at both ends, Ian Richardson headed down at the far post from a Gary Funnell corner and Byrne again saved brilliantly from point blank range on 60 minutes and Steve Smith hadn’t been on the field but a few minutes when he set Karim up for another 50/50 ball with the brave Byrne, who again charged in and just pipped Karim to the ball.

At the Poole end big Max was seeing increasingly more of the ball, and in the last 15 minutes ( including a further 5 mins added on) Poole could count themselves lucky they had a three goal cushion. On 82 minutes, a low driven cross through the six yard box from wide was driven in low under Frampton by Danny Hayes, who appeared to have eluded the attention of the entire Poole defence to get a goal back for the home side and they still were looking for more as time ran out with several shots saved and fired wide of the Poole goal. In the end a good win against a spirited Hayling side that should do well in their first season in the Premier on this showing. My man of the match though has to be the gentle and brave giant in the Hayling goal - Mike Byrne who gave a fabulous display in spite of allowing three very good goals that he could have done little about.

Elsewhere, Romsey finally got a reality check going down 4-1 at home to VT and Cowes gained just a point at New Milton in a 0-0 draw, leaving Poole 3 points clear at the top of the Wessex with a game in hand and as Brockenhurst lost at home 0-1 to Moneyfields, we are the only unbeaten side remaining in the division. Not a bad afternoon’s work!

Poole: Frampton, Whitley, I. Richardson, Funnell, C. Smith, Hogan, Culliford (Yelland), T. Smith, S. Richardson, Benssaouda (Cannie), Brown (S. Smith)

Aaron Skelton's injury picked up on Saturday forced Tom Killick into a change for this home encounter against Lymington Town. Gary Funnell started the game with Taffy Richardson dropping back into the defence. Apart from that it was 'same again' from Poole who were looking to keep their impressive league form going. An excellent crowd of 154 for a midweek game also turned up to see the game.

It was another blistering start by Poole, as it has been all season, and they took the lead on just five minutes. A high ball into the Lymington box saw the keeper jump but fumble the ball. With Benssaouda and Cannie closing in a visiting defender simply waited for the ball to bounce before kicking it straight into his own net. A soft goal to gift the league leaders and Poole never looked back from that point on.

On 13 minutes Dan Cann produced yet another high ball into the box. Benssaouda produced such a sublime touch to kill the ball stone dead that the defender marking him was still looking skywards for the ball as Karim's fierce volley was pushed round the post by the keeper - the first of many fine saves on the night. Another own goal looked likely a few minutes later when a Cann freekick was flicked on and a defender looped a header over his keeper only to see the ball drop just over the bar. From the resulting corner, however, Cann's kick was flicked on and Culliford was on hand to head home his second goal in as many games.

Poole controlled almost total possession and happily sprayed the ball from one wing to another in search of the next opening. Any rare Lymington attack was ably dealt with by the impressive Whitely and both Richardsons. Taffy, again, defies belief for his age. His first half performance in particular was nothing short of fantastic. Playing today in defence you could forgive him the opportunity of 'taking it easy' and saving himself for the next game. But, as usual, he covered every blade of grass and made tackle after tackle to keep possession for the Dolphins. He came up for every corner and whilst others would jog back into position afterwards, Taffy could be seen sprinting at full pelt for over 60 yards in order to face the resulting goalkick or counter. Unbelievable.

On 41 minutes Chris Smith passed to Karim Benssaouda and after his usual twist and turn he found the space to fire in another good shot and again the keeper did well to turn it round the post for a corner. It's fair to say that Lymington simply had no answer for Poole and spent the entire game chasing shadows all over the pitch. This resulted in freekick after freekick being given to Poole as challenges were nearly always late. It was not deliberate but the foul count certainly racked up in the first half. In particular the Lymington number 5 must have been pulled up for fouls on at least a dozen occasions. The referee felt no need to even talk to him despite the repeat offences but as soon as Poole's Dan Cann kicked a ball away and, later in the game, Ian Richardson committed his first foul of the game, both were given yellow cards. Lymington picked up no yellow card in the entire game?

Half time: 2-0

Just like the Brading game on Saturday, Poole added to their tally within sixty seconds of the restart. Funnell found himself running into the box and after his shot was blocked Benssaouda was on hand to control the ball and then bury it into the roof of the net from close range. Benssaouda grabbed his sixth goal in three games just six minutes later. A long throw into the box bounced and Benssaouda produced a spectacular overhead kick into the far corner of the net - a quality goal which leaves him just four short of a hundred goals for Poole.

4-0 up and Killick began to ring the changes. Firstly Steve Smith replaced Stuart Cannie and a few minutes later Sean Hogan came on for Trefor Smith. On 60 minutes Dan Cann showed grit and determination as he chased a defender down in the corner. His perseverance paid off and the blocked the clearance and his cross eventually came back into the box where substitute Steve Smith hammered the ball home.

On 67 minutes Andy Culliford produced a great flick to Funnell in the middle of the park. Funnell's ball sent Steve Smith clear of the defence and as the keeper came out the youngster picked his spot and slotted the ball home.

Stuart Brown replaced Benssaouda soon after but there was no slackening in the tempo of the game from Poole. Previous Poole sides would be taking their foot off the pedal at this point but this side has certainly got a 'killer' mentality. The pressure on Lymington remained relentless for ninety minutes. The Poole attitude summed up by Funnell as during stoppage time, and seven up, he could be heard literally screaming at keeper Max Frampton to 'Hurry up!" with his clearance!

For the record Ian Richardson thumped home number seven on 71 minutes and there were numerous other chances too. Funnell had a right foot pile-driver beat the keeper but come back off the post and there were other shots from Culliford, Steve Smith and Brown. Given that the keeper made four or five top class saves on the night the score could have been a whole lot bigger.

Poole: Frampton, Whitley, I. Richardson, Funnell, Cann, C. Smith, Culliford, T. Smith (Hogan), S. Richardson, Benssaouda (Brown), Cannie (S. Smith)

Yet another home game for the Dolphins and with many Wessex Premier clubs in FA Cup action this was a chance for Poole Town to put more pressure on at the top of the table. An unchanged starting eleven from the Wimborne game meant that Steve Smith, Funnell, Brown, Steer and Hogan all started on the bench.

Unbeaten in seventeen games against Brading and having scored 68 goals in those games, hopes were high that Poole would continue that trend at Tatnam. The game started brightly and Poole forced three chances in the opening couple of minutes - two shots from Cannie and Benssaouda also fashioning a half chance.

The first goal came on the quarter hour mark. Trefor Smith, having another great game, did well and sent the ball down the right wing. Stuart Cannie and a defender set off and although the defender got there first he made the fatal mistake of attempting a reverse backpass to the keeper. The ball fell well short of it's target and Cannie pounced to hit a left foot shot low into the right corner - his first goal for Poole Town.

Seven minutes later and Karim Benssaouda doubled the lead with a super goal. He raced away down the left, controlled the ball, then cut inside before firing a right foot shot beyond the keeper which bounced off the right post, ran along the goal line before nestling just inside the left hand post.

An injured Aaron Skelton hobbled off on 27 minutes and Gary Funnell came on in his place. It didn't take long for Funnell to find his shooting boots either. Benssaouda fed the ball to Culliford and he set up Funnell for a left foot shot which went just wide. As the game approached half time Poole finally put the game well beyond their visitors with another quality strike. Dan Cann sent his usual superb cross from deep on the left. Benssaouda held off a defender and allowed the ball to roll across him before firing a right foot shot back across the keeper into the far corner. Another brace for Benssaouda and remarkably his 12th goal against Brading!

Half time: 3-0.

Right from the start of the second half it was clear that Poole were not finished with the scoreboard as they made it 4-0 within 60 seconds of the restart. Trefor Smith produced some good work on the right and his pinpoint cross found Culliford racing in and his bullet header found the bottom left corner of the net - his first goal since returning to the club and his 10th goal overall for Poole.

Steve Smith replaced Benssaouda after just five minutes of the second half and defender Danny Steer made his debut for Poole when he replaced Culliford on 56 minutes. On the hour mark another good passing movement saw the ball fall to Funnell and his 25 yard screamer flew just over the bar.

Credit to Brading as they continued to try to make chances. The number 9 produced a couple of good runs down the right and on 62 minutes he produced a fantastic cross which the tall number 11 (who had produced an impressive display in the first half) could only head wide.

Trefor Smith whipped a great ball into the box on 65 minutes and both Cannie and Ian Richardson who were unmarked failed to move when just the slightest of touches would have been enough to score. A minute later and Steve Smith raced clear of the defence but his shot was blocked by the keeper rushing out.

The match started to deteriorate from here as the play became sloppy and it took on the appearance of a training game. However, urged on by manager Killick, Poole produced a strong end to the game. On 83 minutes another patient build up saw Funnell break clear but his shot could only find the side netting. Two minutes later and Steve Smith took the ball wide of the keeper before placing the ball coolly into the far corner from a tight angle to keep his impressive scoring run going.

With the game entering stoppage time another Poole attack saw several shots blocked before it broke to Chris Smith on the edge of the box and his right foot shot found the corner of the net - his first goal for Poole and met with some huge cheers (and jeers!!) from the Poole bench.

With Lymington Town going out of the FA Cup, Poole will now take them on in yet another home league game this coming Tuesday.

Poole: Frampton, Whitley, I. Richardson, Skelton (Funnell), Cann, C. Smith, Culliford (Steer), T. Smith, S. Richardson, Benssaouda (S. Smith), Cannie