Ryan Woolfenden and Darren Reeks are both still on holiday and with Paul Manning suspended and Hayfield still injured it was a similar line-up for the Dolphins to recent games.

Despite the weather the pitch was actually in a better state than many expected but the usual slope and bumpiness together with the added heaviness was always going to make the game more of a lottery than it normally is here. It is always difficult to play good football on this pitch and today was no exception as both teams had to slog it out in midfield for much of the game.

The opening half hour was pretty even with very little goalmouth action. On 5 minutes there was an almighty scramble in the Horndean penalty area with the ball pinging off several players and possibly a post as well.

Poole took more control of the game towards the end of the first half as they began to pass the ball with a little more success. On 37 minutes the ball fell to Lee Manning but his shot, which beat the keeper, was blocked on the line and hacked away. Half time: 0-0.

On 48 minutes a slight mix-up between Poole keeper Scrivens and a defender saw a shot cleared practically out of the keeper's hands as he prepared to gather it up and five minutes later Scrivens was at full stretch to tip a long range Horndean effort over the bar.

The only goal of the game came on 64 minutes. A Horndean player found himself one-on-one with the keeper and as he lobbed the ball over the keeper to see it go wide he was clattered by Scrivens and the referee pointed to the spot. The penalty was duly converted and in a dour game, that was about that!

A Horndean player was shown a red card with about four minutes remaining but despite huff and puff from both sides there really was little other action to report. Poole supporters shouldn't be disheartened by this result - it was just one of those days and other teams will also face the lottery of going to Horndean as well.

Poole: Scrivens, Spalding, Bartlett, Richardson, White, Funnell, L. Manning, Cornick (Warrington), Brown, Chivers (Cherrett), A. Turner

If Poole Town beat AFC Aldermaston then they will travel to Horndean in the third round a week later on the 24th November.

Any fears that the previous good form would come to an end were quickly snuffed out as the Dolphins continued where they left off on Saturday. Amesbury started fairly brightly when a good volley from the edge of the Poole area was comfortably held by Scrivens on just five minutes.

On 9 minutes a Poole cross was headed back across the area by Lee Manning and Matty White flashed a header just over the bar. Poole took the lead on 14 minutes. Carl Chivers again was causing all sorts of problems for the Amesbury defence and when the ball dropped about 25 yards out, Stuart Brown spotted the keeper off his line and fired a superb volley over him and into the net - a great strike. This opened the floodgates once again for Poole as they surged forward looking for more goals.

On 23 minutes it was Brown again racing through against the keeper. As the keeper came out Brown knocked the ball over the top of him, skipped past and fired in his second of the game. Four more minutes and Poole were three up. After some good passing through the midfield Lee Manning picked the ball up wide on the left, After running at the defender he cut in onto his right foot and curled a superb shot into the top left corner of the net from the edge of the box - his second goal in as many games.

A bizarre goal followed on the half hour when Poole were awarded a penalty. A Funnell cross was cleared by the defender only to hit the referee and rebound straight back into the box. As Brown controlled the ball he was tripped and the referee who played such a major part in the 'move' had no option but to point to the spot. Funnell stepped up to score his eighth of the season (3 penalties) from the spot.

There was still no let up for the Amesbury defence and Poole found themselves five up after just 37 minutes. Leigh Cornick produced an overhead kick into the box and substitute Ollie Cherrett raced in to thump the ball home from just a couple of yards. Half-time: 5-0.

As the players left the field at half-time the heavens opened and supporters were soaked by torrential rain for the next half hour. Credit must go to both sides in the second half as playing football simply was not an option in the conditions. In fairness to Amesbury they stuck to their task well but the game became a farce as huge puddles developed and both Chivers and Turner were denied when the ball stuck in water when clean through.

As conditions worsened the referee rightly had no choice but to call the game off after 76 minutes - it was simply too dangerous to continue. Whilst the Wessex League management committee have the final say as to whether the result stands or not, the fact that 85% of the game was completed and Poole were 5-0 up should see Poole picking up the three points.

Poole: Scrivens, Spalding, Bartlett, Richardson (Welsh), Funnell, White, Cornick, L. Manning (Warrington), Brown (Cherrett), A. Turner, Chivers

A good start was essential for the players to settle and right from the off they were all seriously up for the game. On 8 minutes Stuart Brown again showed great composure as he broke in the box before squaring the ball for Carl Chivers to tap in an easy opener. Poole continued to put some good football together and the second goal came after 25 minutes. Carl Chivers beat a defender with skill and pace and after his shot was well saved, Lee Manning was on hand to thump in the rebound.

On 35 minutes it was Chivers again who set up the next chance - his delightful cross being met by Brown who scooped the ball over the ball from just a few yards out. A minute later a Funnell corner was tipped on by the keeper and a header from Taffy Richardson at the far post could only find the side-netting. The Shaftesbury keeper was in brilliant form and just before half-time Matty White (playing his 100th game for the Club) burst into the box, ghosted past a defender but saw his fierce shot tipped superbly over the ball. Still Poole piled forward and a Gary Bartlett shot got a slight touch from Lee Manning which sent it narrowly over the bar. With the Shaftesbury players desperate to hear the half time whistle Poole could still muster a couple more great chances before the break. Firstly Stuart Brown crossed and a Funnell piledriver was tipped over the bar with a fantastic reflex save. From the resulting corner Brown himself met the ball with a powerful header but it flashed just wide of the post. Half-time: 2-0.

The second half mirrored the first as Poole created a host of clear chances and but for the visiting keeper the score could easily have risen to double figures. And no-one could have argued if it had. On 56 minutes Funnell made a superb tackle on the left side of the Shaftesbury box and his cross found Aaron Turner free with enough time to control the ball and then coolly slot past the keeper to wrap the game up.

With three consecutive wins under their belt, supporters could see the confidence flowing in the team now and the midfield were purring along, breaking up the Shaftesbury play and creating chance after chance for the Poole strikers. Anthony Warrington came on as a sub and clearly his fitness is now much better than it was. For the final half hour he carved through the defence time after time and but for some outstanding goalkeeping he could have got a hat-trick! On 68 minutes White slid a fine ball through to Warrington but his shot went wide of the left hand post. On 74 minutes Cornick crossed into the box and Warrington produced a superb piece of skill to pull the ball down, turn and fire a shot which the keeper was equal to, pushing it round the post.

On 82 minutes Turner put Warrington through but again his shot was well saved. From the resulting corner the ball dropped to Cherrett and he turned and shot only to see his effort tipped over the bar. In the dying seconds even substitute Matty Welsh popped up in the box and fired a shot just wide of the post.

A great team performance which left every supporter with a big smile at the end of the game. Some highly positive postings on the messageboard already suggests that other people felt the same way about this game. Superb.

Poole: Mitchener, Spalding, Bartlett, Richardson, Funnell (Cherrett), White, Cornick, L. Manning (Welsh), Brown, A. Turner, Chivers (Warrington)

With the pitch in great condition and the Poole support in full voice it was a pretty bad start that Town got off to once again. On 7 minutes Blackfield broke clear down the right and after cutting in the no. 10 slotted the ball under Spillane into the far corner to put the home side in front. A couple of minutes later Spillane pulled off a fine stop when faced with another one v one situation.

Poole's first chance came on 11 minutes when a Funnell corner was headed just over by Cornick. Five minutes later and things got worse for Poole as a shot from the edge of the box beat a static Spillane and nestled into the corner. With the Blackfield players diving in front of the stand in celebration one home supporter shouted to them to save their energy for the next three goals. How prophetic his words would become although not quite in the way he had meant!

Killick made a brave substitution on the half hour when Ollie Cherrett was sacrificed and 16 year old Carl Chivers came on to partner Turner up front. The substitution proved inspired as Chivers proceeded to turn in a scintillating performance, terrorising the Blackfield defence for the remainder of the match - his pace and skill proving just too much for the home defenders. On 39 minutes Chivers dribbled past two defenders but his run was halted just in sight of the goal.

On 42 minutes a quick freekick from Funnell found Brown in space and his fierce strike was only grabbed at the second attempt by the Blackfield keeper. Half-time: 2-0.

If Blackfield edged the first half, the second half was all one way as Poole laid siege to their goal creating umpteen chances throughout the half. On 52 minutes some good passing on the edge of the box saw the ball drop to Funnell and his shot took a deflection which took the ball wide of the keeper and spinning into the net. Game on.

Five minutes later and Chivers again made a terrific run down the right beating two defenders before crossing to Turner whose prod sent the ball just wide of the right hand post. A minute later and Chivers again beat a defender and then skipped round the keeper before firing over the bar from a tight angle. As the pressure mounted the panic was clear to see amongst the Blackfield players. On 64 minutes Poole strung some more good passes together and with the keeper beaten the ball was cleared off the line by the last defender. 69 minutes and Chivers was at it again. Bartlett put a great ball through the defence and Chivers raced away again. After side stepping the keeper again his shot was once again cleared right off the line when it looked like the equaliser was certain.

On 75 minutes the excellent Matty White provided a cross into the box and despite the ball being thumped into the net the referee pulled it back for a prior handball and Poole were awarded a penalty. Gary Funnell made no mistake as he thumped the spot kick home off the left hand post. Now level, there was only going to be one winner of the game and Poole continued to press forward.

With three minutes left Woolfenden skinned two defenders on the left and his shot was only parried by the keeper and was eventually hooked off the line with the Poole players claiming it had crossed the line. Poole were not to be denied however and on 89 minutes Turner crossed beautifully from the right and the smallest player on the pitch, Carl Chivers, rose at the far post and headed his first goal for the club to secure a fantastic victory.

Make no mistake, after recent results and performances, this was a superb display from the Town. Despite being two down at half time every single player dug deep and they thoroughly deserved to win this game. The four across midfield were absolutely tremendous with Funnell quite majestic at times. The forwards looked threatening far more than recently and it was fitting that young Chivers capped his performance with the winning goal.

Well done lads - great team spirit led to the best three points so far this season.

Poole: Spillane, Welsh, Spalding, Cherrett (Chivers), Bartlett, Funnell, Woolfenden, White, Cornick, A. Turner, Brown

In the Wessex League Cup Poole will again be at home in the second round - this time to AFC Aldermaston.

During the warm-up James Wood pulled a muscle and manager Tommy Killick had to reshuffle in a few positions. Paul Spillane is still out injured as is Matty Hayfield for at least two weeks.

Poole received a shock in the 4th minute when Wessex Division 3 side Tadley took the lead.

Poole took control of the game and both Funnell and Woolfenden provided some excellent crosses from both flanks. During this early period Funnell also hit the bar. It took until the 40th minute for Poole to pull level. A Funnell corner resulted in a goalmouth scramble and Taffy Richardson was on hand to hook the ball into the net. Half-time: 1-1.

A bizarre incident on 50 minutes. Ollie Cherrett was tugged from behind and as he fell the player who fouled him got caught by his leg. After giving Poole the freekick for the foul the ref proceeded to send Cherrett off for deliberately kicking the player! Young Dave Sturgess made his first team debut after some excellent performances for the reserves when he replaced Harris on 60 minutes. On 70 minutes a Funnell cross was beaten away by the keeper and as the ball dropped to Sturgess he flicked the ball up with his right foot and unleashed a cracking shot with his left foot which buried itself in the net.

Poole wrapped the game up on 85 minutes when Woolfenden cut into the area, dropped his shoulder, made some space and drove the ball past the Tadley keeper with his left foot.

Poole: Mitchener, Welsh, Spalding, Richardson, Cherrett, Funnell, Woolfenden, White, Harris (Sturgess), Cornick (A. Turner), Brown

Player News

The all time Poole Town goal scoring record was today put under threat with the birth of our son Ryan Thomas Bean. Any rumours started by my wife that he will be an AFC Bournemouth supporter will be strenuously denied! The words 'body', 'my', 'dead' and 'over' I think were used! Already setting records as the youngest person ever to join the Supporters Club at just 1 day!

With injury to Paul Spillane, young Lee Mitchener made his debut for the first team in the first of this season's Dorset Senior Cup matches.

On 16 minutes Leigh Cornick found strike partner Stuart Brown and he clinically finished to put Poole in front. Good pressure from Poole two minutes later Cornick hit the bar and a minute later a Reeks shot was well saved. Still Poole attacked and another minute later Funnell also had a shot saved. Ryan Woolfenden played very well in the first half causing the Wareham defence all sorts of problems. Half-time: 0-1.

Cornick wasted several chances when well placed early in the second half but Wareham drew level on 50 minutes. A combination of the swirling wind and a mistake between keeper and Neal Spalding saw the home side draw level and at this point they could sense a win against the Dolphins. On 60 minutes saw a repeat of the first goal when Cornick again found Brown and once more he slotted home with another good finish.

Aaron Turner made his much awaited debut for the club when he replaced Reeks on 62 minutes. Despite not being match fit, it was Turner who received a great pass from Carl Chivers on 85 minutes and he finished well to put Poole 3-1 up.

A bizarre incident in the dying minutes saw Wareham awarded a penalty and they duly converted but it was too little too late.

Poole: Mitchener, Wood (Welsh), Spalding, Woodward, Reeks (A. Turner), Cherrett, Funnell, Hayfield (Chivers), Woolfenden, Cornick, Brown