For the first match under the new floodlights a crowd of 274 turned up for the Dorset Senior Cup clash against Wessex League Portland Utd. Officials from both the Dorset FA and Hampshire League also turned up to check out the ground and all were impressed by the transformation at Tatnam. With the pitch in perfect condition the scene was set for great game.

Things started badly for Poole when Portland took the lead after just five minutes, some neat interplay up front resulting in Randall being lobbed in the Poole goal. With The Dolphins still not settled worse was to follow when on ten minutes Andy Gater clumsily tripped a Portland player in the box and the referee had no choice but to award a penalty. An indication of the evening to come saw the penalty cannon back off the crossbar but the referee awarded a re-take after he adjudged that the Poole players had encroached into the area. The second attempt was slotted into the corner to give the visitors a 2-0 lead. On 24 minutes Darren Elmes broke clear and with only the keeper to beat he was deliberately brought down from behind by the last defender. The result? A free-kick outside the box and only a yellow card for the defender............ This was one of many awful decisions by the referee made throughout the evening and even the Portland players were surprised that a red card had not been shown. Five minutes later and the game could have been out of Poole's reach. A great cross from the right was met with an unchallenged header and with the keeper beaten Poole supporters were relieved to see the ball hit the bar and bounce away to safety. While Poole enjoyed most of the possession it was Portland who looked increasingly dangerous on the break and they reached half-time with a comfortable lead. Half-time: 0-2.

Needing an early goal Poole set about the second half in more determined style. On 48 minutes the Portland keeper raced out of his box to meet a through ball. With the ball only partially cleared Jamie Holland found himself in some space and with the keeper still AWOL he hammered home a superb shot past two defenders on the line to set up a frantic second half. With only a one goal lead Portland pulled all their players back and set their stall out to defend for the rest of the match. This they did with some skill and determination and despite Poole's massive second half possession they never really looked like breaking through to equalise. Even when the Portland No.4 was dismissed for a second yellow card on 72 minutes Poole's insistence on aimlessly bombarding the Portland area with long balls never looked like reaping a second goal.

On an historic night for the club this was a disappointing performance and result which already leaves Poole Town chasing only league honours this season. One welcome sight for Poole supporters was the appearance of Gary Fletcher for the first time this season in a competitive match - we welcome him back and wish him well.

Poole: Randall, Mooney, Avery, Gater, Jones, Fletcher (Rocher), Maloney, White, Elmes, Holland, Rowley (Omoto)
Unused Sub: Pratt

The game on Saturday away at Portsmouth RN has been postponed due to a waterlogged pitch. Here we go again.........

Poole Town 1 V 5  AFC Bournemouth  - Friendly at Wimborne Town

This hastily arranged friendly took place at The Cuthbury in front of a crowd of about 160+.
One of the biggest surprises of the night came in the strength of the Bournemouth line-up with first team regulars such as Eddie Howe, Richard Hughes, Chukki Eribenne, James Hayter and Carl Fletcher all turning out to take on The Dolphins.

Although Eribenne put the Cherries ahead on 18 minutes John Rowley managed to race clear and equalise on the half hour when Poole enjoyed their best period of the match. Indeed Poole nearly took the lead on 38 minutes when Rowley set up Paul Maloney who volleyed just over the bar. That was as close as Poole Town got as Bournemouth stepped up a gear to race into a 3-1 lead by the break with goals from Hayter and Hughes. But for a great save from Paul Spillane Bournemouth may have added a fourth from Eribenne again on 42 minutes. Half-time: 1-3.

The difference in class was evident in the second half as both managers gave several more players a run out. Time and again Bournemouth proved to be quicker to the ball and and only a combination of desperate defending and poor finishing stopped the score ending up higher than it was. Bournemouth did manage a couple more goals in the last ten minutes but the match proved a worthwhile test for Poole as they prepare for some crucial league games coming up.

As quoted on the official AFC Bournemouth website Manager Sean O’Driscoll was full of praise for Poole in giving them the opportunity for a match: “Poole did us a big favour because although they, to their credit, aren’t a top quality side, they are probably the best team in their league and gave us a good game whilst playing good football.”

With just over a week to go before Poole Town play their first match under their own lights for years I am delighted to report that work on the floodlights is going to schedule. Two floodlights are already up and the final two lights will be erected tomorrow.

Fixture News

With only one game in the last 3 weeks Poole Town have arranged a friendly for this Thursday 25th October. With a kick-off time of 7.00pm The Dolphins will take on an AFC Bournemouth XI at the Cuthbury - Wimborne Town's ground.

Poole Town Ladies

Poole Town Ladies scores and match reports have been updated and can be found here.
It is with regret that the Poole Town ladies will soon bid a sad farewell to Sylvia and Keith Cook who will shortly be moving away from the area. Sylvia and Keith have done so much in bringing the girls through to be a winning team and their dedication and determination has been an inspiration to everyone connected with Poole Town Football Club. I would like to take this opportunity of wishing both of them the very best for the future and hope that they will be able to return often to follow the fortunes of both the men and ladies teams.

Poole Town Ladies scores and match reports have been updated and can be found here.

Poole Town returned to action after a fortnight break with a home league game against Petersfield Town who had taken 5/6 points off The Dolphins last season. Andy Gater and Jamie Holland both returned from suspension and Louic Rocher also made the starting line-up after recovering from injury. It was also great to see Gary Fletcher warming up with the players prior to the kick-off.

As early as the 5th minute Poole looked in control of the match and a superb volley from Jamie Holland was denied by the crossbar. On 17 minutes Colin Randall was called into action when he managed to stop a certain goal with his left boot. As Poole continued to press Paul Maloney made a superbly timed run on 25 minutes - beating the offside trap and racing away down the left. His eventual cross was literally taken off the toe of Jamie Holland by the visiting keeper. A minute later and Jamie Holland raced clear again and although well placed to score his shot whistled over the bar. As the half wore on Petersfield began to find some space and their confidence visibly increased. On 40 minutes their No. 11 unleashed a superb shot from the edge of the box which Randall did well to tip away for a corner. In injury time Petersfield broke quickly and with Poole slow to get back, a deep cross to the far post was met with a clinical header to put Petersfield a goal up at half-time. Half-Time: 0-1.

John Rowley replaced Louic Rocher at half-time and Jamie Holland reverted to his normal role on the right hand side of midfield. On 57 minutes Andy Gater trotted forward for a corner and stayed up front for the ensuing Poole pressure. When the ball eventually found him he held off the defender and fired a low shot across the keeper into the corner of the net - his first goal in 44 appearances since returning to the club last year! This leaves Neil Wardle from the current crop of players who has not scored for Poole in the last few seasons - 57 games in fact (sorry Neil!!). With Poole now level there only ever looked like being one winner and soon the pressure mounted time and time again on the Petersfield goal. On 73 minutes Darren Elmes broke clear and as the keeper advanced he unselfishly pulled the ball back for Jamie Holland to hammer home past two defenders on the line. Two minutes later and the points were safe. The keeper punched a deep cross clear only for Holland to head it back across goal for Elmes to steal in and nod home from close range. On 88 minutes Andy Culliford delivered a deep cross into the area. The ball was picked up by Holland who sent his own cross back into the box and Culliford who had continued his run met the ball sweetly to clip it past the keeper to make it 4-1. In a replay of the first half Poole took their foot off the pedal in injury time and allowed Petersfield to claim a consolation second with practically the last kick of the game.

Not a tremendous performance by any means but The Dolphins did enough to secure the points and stay firmly on the heels of Vosper Thornycroft.

Poole: Randall, Mooney, Avery (Wardle) (Omoto), Gater, Jones, Culliford, Maloney, White, Elmes, Holland, Rocher (Rowley)

Fixture News

The draw for the second round of the Dorset Senior Cup has been made and Poole Town have been drawn at home to Wessex League Portland United. Under Dorset FA rules the match must be played on 31st October which means that this now becomes Poole's first game under their new floodlights at Tatnam. The original fixture planned for that night (home to Stockbridge in the Hampshire Premier League) will now take place on Saturday 3rd November.