Match report -- from the smoking pen - Ian Claxton

Our remaining cup competition kicked off against our very local neighbours, Poole Borough of the Dorset Premier League. Spawned from a dispute between the our club and its supporters club at the end of the nineties, Borough have played us twice in recent times in cup competitions and on both occasions the matches were well contested. Giles Kilshaw’s side has had an indifferent season thus far, but a close match was again anticipated and so proved to be.

This was a grinding, mainly midfield scrap, typical of a cup tie, but cleanly fought. Poole Borough fought a spoiling match and succeeded in disrupting Town’s passing game to the extent that it made the home team’s performance look poor and allowed them little chance to create many shooting chances. However, Town still managed to have the larger proportion of the possession and as a result, Borough hardly bothered Big Max in the Town net for the entire game. It wasn’t pretty, but very effective. Richard Glenister managed to get a shot off at 10 minutes but his aim was wide, and Jamie Moores’ cross put the Town striker in again a few minutes later, only for him to fumble over the ball at the critical moment. Town stuck to the task, but frustration was bound to creep in and Trefor Smith picked up a yellow card on 35 minutes after trying a little too exuberantly to regain the ball for Mr Derrien’s liking. However, a minute later, Trefor tee’d up Gary Funnell for a rocket that Boro’ keeper Shears did well to save and just before halftime Trefor had a similar shot of his own saved from 20 yards out. Half-time 0-0

Tom Killick went to his bench and brought back Luke Whitley for Chris Smith and replaced Fawzi Saadi with Aaron Skelton to start the second half. Town looked more in control as a result, but Borough stuck to their guns and the shooting chances were still few and far between. New lad, Danny Neville, who has joined from Hythe & Dibden, looked to be another good catch and turned in a good performance and on 62 minutes made a brilliant tackle to deny John Bates a shot when he was through on goal after a rare lapse in the Town defence, and sweep the ball cleanly from the striker’s feet. Town’s best chance of the half came on 68 minutes after Glenister had been upended on the edge of Boro’s box. Funnell’s free kick screamed low round the edge of the wall, into the arms of Shears but he fumbled it and it rolled back into play. Glenister was first to it but his clobbering shot had too much power on it and he blasted wide with the goal begging.

On 72 minutes, Glenister pounced on another loose ball after he and Keith Middleton had got in each others way and stumbled over the incoming ball Glenister’s shot had Shears at full stretch to fingertip the ball over the bar. Having made all three substitutions the signs looked ominous for Town when Trefor Smith failed to get up after a hard tackle on 78 minutes, and then had to helped, limping to the side line for additional treatment. Fortunately the magic sponge (or its modern equivalent) did the trick and Trefor was back on a few minutes later.

While Trefor was missing, a gap must have opened that Lee Thomas made use off as Borough worked an opening . However, any designs on a shot on goal by the Boro’ man were quickly dispelled, as he was tracked and hounded by the impressive Neville to the extent that his eventual shot went well wide.

On 87 minutes with the entire crowd begging for a goal, Glenister worked a opening close to the bye line and sent the ball screaming across the 6 yard box for Cann to knock in at the far post unchallenged, however the flight of the ball was just beyond Cann’s outstretched boot as the he came racing in at full stretch.

The last 10 minutes of the 90 seemed full of stoppages for injuries and substitutions, so when the referee, allowed time added on to drag on well beyond the 90 minutes It seem perfectly justified. With extra –time looking almost an inevitablitily, Glenister rose to meet the cross from Middleton and sent the ball into the bottom corner of the net beyond Shears to give the home side the goal they had worked so hard to obtain.

It was a cruel blow to the visitors, with 5 minutes of added time played. It seemed to crush them as Town came at them again, urged by Tom Killick to ‘finish properly’. Cann took the ball into the corner and was fouled. The free kick from the corner flag flashed across goal missing nearly everyone and was headed back in by Taffy from beyond the far post. Glenister rose again and headed home his second in two minutes to seal the victory with the very last play of the match.
Final Score 2-0.

Poole Town :- 13. Max Frampton. 2. Chris Smith ( Sub: 12. Luke Whitley half-time) 3. Steve Richardson. 4. Danny Neville 5. Ian Richardson 6. Dan Cann 7. Gary Funnell. 8. Jamie Moores ( Sub – 14. Keith Middleton 62mins) 9. Trefor Smith (Y) 10. Richard Glenister(2) 11. Fawzi Saadi ( Sub 15. Aaron Skelton half-time)

Poole Borough :- 1. Doug Shear 2.Dan Young 3. Matt Morris 4.Simon Linead 5. Sean Hebdon 6. John Bates (Sub: 15.Dan Lomax 85mins) 7. Paul Harding
( Sub: 14. Dan Colkwell (Y) 78 mins) 8. Andy Barham 9. Dylan Hooper (Sub: 12. Lee Thomas half-time) 10. Ross Mills 11.Steve Russell.

The away game at VT FC was postponed due to waterlogged pitch.

Poole finally got back to winning ways with an emphatic 3-0 win over Hamble Assc at Tatnam. Pompey youth player Tom Roberts made his debut in the Poole defence Funnell started on the bench as he returns from injury and Karim Benssaouda was suspended for this match.

On 6 minutes Fawzi Saadi had the first chance of the game as his shot brought a full length save from the Hamble keeper. Three minutes later and Glenister produced a great cross from the right but the header from Moores was directed straight into the arms of the keeper.

Whilst Poole continued to enjoy the majority of possession and never looked in danger at the back there was no more clear cut chances until the 25 minute mark. Then Moores broke well down the left and flicked a great ball into the near post area and Taffy Richardson was just unable to get the final touch to put it away.
On 36 minutes Dan Cann was put through but his shot was well saved by the keeper and no Poole player was able to get onto the rebound.

Finally Poole broke the deadlock on the stroke of half time. Glenister was sent clear and after holding off the challenge of a defender trying to get back he tucked the ball past the keeper into the net.

Half time: 1-0.

Five minutes into the second half and Poole continued to pile on the pressure. Richardson got up really well to meet a left sided corner but his header cannoned back off the underside of the bar and was cleared away. Surprisingly it took until the 72nd minute before Poole made the game safe. Richardson beat the offside trap down the right and crossed low into the box. Cann completely missed his shot and as the ball came to another Poole player the Hamble keeper raced out and clattered him to the ground conceding the penalty. Fawzi Saadi stepped up to score from the spot - his second in as many games. A few minutes later and Saadi hobbled off to be replaced by former Poole player Keith Middleton.

On 82 minutes Glenister received the ball to feet and after a great turn his left foot shot was well saved once again. Five minutes later and Middleton was clearly brought down from behind when clean through on the keeper but no penalty was awarded. Straight away the ball was crossed from the left and Middleton saw his header fly just over the bar. He was not to be denied however and scored on his return to the club in injury time. A very good quick break from Poole saw Hogan drag several defenders away from the danger area before he squared it for Middleton to take a touch and drill it into the bottom left hand corner.

A much better performance from Poole against an admittedly poor Hamble side, Special mention to the defence though as Whitley, Gilbert and Roberts all contributed with some fine solid performances.

Poole: Frampton, Whitley, Gilbert, Roberts, Hogan, Richardson, Saadi (Middleton), T. Smith, Cann, Moores (C. Smith), Glenister (Diallo)

For the second year running Poole Town have been drawn at home to Poole Borough in the Dorset Senior Cup. The 3rd round match will take place at Tatnam on Wednesday 29th November - 7.45pm kick-off.

Player News

New players in over the last week or so:-

Dan Cann - from Lymington & New Milton
Ross Edwards - (former Poole Town player who went to Bournemouth Poppies)
Keith Middleton - from Poole Borough
Jamie Moores - from Hamworthy United
Tom Roberts - Portsmouth Youth / Reserves.

Unfortunately Poole Town skipper since the start of the season Alan Jordan has departed and signed for Lymington & New Milton.

Again, back to league action for the Dolphins with the crucial home game against unbeaten Cowes Sports. Having only conceded two goals in the league all season and having done the double over Poole Town last season this was always going to be a big test for Poole as they try to get back to their early season form. There were debuts for Dan Cann (from Lymington & New Milton) and Jamie Moores (from Hamworthy United). Unfortunately Gary Funnell had not recovered from the injury picked up at Poppies last week.

This was always a tight game with very little to choose between the two sides. Whilst Poole enjoyed the better possession it was Cowes who forged the better goalscoring chances. On 11 minutes there was good passing between Hogan, Trefor Smith and Cann. It ended with Cann's shot being well saved and from the resulting corner Taffy Richardson saw his header directed straight at the Cowes keeper. A minute later and Cowes broke very quickly and having been put clean through the visiting striker brought a tremendous save from Frampton, the ball rolling just wide of the right hand post.

On 15 minutes Cann directed a freekick to the near post and Glenister managed to get in front of the defender but his header went just wide of the post. Back came Cowes however and on 28 minutes they should have taken the lead. A superb drop of the shoulder and turn from a Cowes player left the Poole defence chasing shadows but as he raced in on goal he dragged his shot woefully wide of the right hand post.

On 38 minutes Cowes broke again down the left and following a couple of fortunate deflections they had another shot superbly saved by the feet of Frampton who had one of his best games for the club.

Half time: 0-0.

Benssaouda and Sturgess replaced Glenister and Skelton at half time and immediately Benssaouda looked lively down the left. Unfortunately he managed only eighteen minutes before hobbling off to be replaced by Fawzi Saadi. Within two minutes Saadi should have scored. A Dan Cann long throw was flicked on by Gilbert and there was Saadi arriving in the box, in space, but his shot ballooned well over the bar. Despite the miss Saadi really looked up for the game and looked more effective in his thirty minutes than he has at any other time of the season - lets hope it continues!

With the match looking increasingly like a 0-0 draw (and Cowes looking like they were happy to take it) the visitors took the lead on 84 minutes. A freekick cannoned back off the Poole wall and a Cowes player managed to turn and tuck it past Frampton into the far corner. With Cowes' excellent defensive record it looked as though it might be an undeserved defeat for Poole but credit to them, they hit back immediately and were level within two minutes of the restart. A break down the right saw the ball played across the face of the box and there was Saadi to drill the ball home with his left foot - his first goal for Poole. Unfortunately his enthusiasm for getting the ball back from a Cowes player brought him a yellow card.

Poole pressed in the dying minutes to get the winner but the ref eventually brought the game to a close and a draw was a fair reflection of the match.
This was a much better performance from Poole with some good individual efforts throughout the team. Of the new boys Dan Cann looked very useful on the left but Moores did look a bit lost at times although he is yet to reach full match fitness. The defence, still adjusting to life without Hankey and Jordan, looked much more cohesive. Good signs all round.

Poole: Frampton, Whitley, Gilbert, Richardson, Hogan, Skelton (Sturgess), C. Smith, Cann, T. Smith, Moores, Glenister (Benssaouda) (Saadi)

Poole Town travelled the short distance to Victoria Park for the second time this season to take on Bournemouth Poppies - this time in the second round of the Hampshire Senior Cup. Whilst Gary Funnell returned from suspension, both Taffy Richardson and James Guetling were ruled out through injury.

Having been outplayed in football terms back in August in the league encounter Poppies obviously decided that the physical approach was going to be the best way of progressing through this tie. Unfortunately it was ex Poole Town striker Leigh Phillips who led the way as early as the third minute. With Poppies having won a throw Phillips trotted towards the thrower to look for the ball. Noticing that Poole midfielder Chris Smith was tracking him he simply brought his arm up and lashed out with his elbow catching Smith in the face. It was premeditated and nasty and Phillips should have been sent off on the spot. The referee, who appeared to be up with play, did absolutely nothing and to add insult to injury instead of stopping play for a head injury he allowed the game to proceed until the ball went dead. There was no faking involved - I was stood 3 yards away and heard the contact between elbow and face. Buoyed by the ref's inability to act the Poppies players then threw themselves into every tackle for the rest of the game and the referee's performance can be deduced by the fact that not one (from my notes) Poppies player received a yellow card in the match.

That said, this was still not a good performance from Poole and is their third straight defeat on the trot - something which hasn't happened since August 2005. There seems to be a lack of confidence within the side at the moment and in particularly we are not creating anything like the number of chances that we did earlier in the season. Perhaps the new signings will help to freshen things up in some areas?

Poppies enjoyed the early pressure as they forced a number of consecutive corners in the opening minutes. Poole began to find their feet however and on 20 minutes Hogan produced a deep cross to the far post and Steve Strong saw his volley well saved. Two minutes later and Trefor Smith had a great shot dip over the keeper but there was a defender on the line who headed clear. This was a good spell for Poole and on 25 minutes Steve Strong was sent clear down the left. As the Poppies keeper came out he chipped him from 20 yards but the ball dipped just over the bar.

On 35 minutes a Poppies cross from the right found the No 10 completely unmarked but he volleyed well over. In injury time at the end of the first half another cross from the right saw Frampton taken out of it whilst jumping for the ball and again with no whistle a Poppies player was able to bundle the ball over the line at the far post.

Half time: 1-0.

Poppies took a two goal lead on 51 minutes. A freekick was flighted into the box and the ever superb Lamin Dibba rose to thump the ball down into the bottom right hand corner of the net. Immediate substitutions for Poole as Benssaouda replaced Saadi and Sturgess replaced a hobbling Funnell after he too was targeted in the middle of the field.

Poole again looked lively and won a series of freekicks around the box. Eventually another freekick found the head of Gilbert but he could only direct it over the bar from a yard or so out. Alpha Diallo replaced Strong on 80 minutes and three minutes later a great ball from Skelton found Benssaouda out wide. He cut in and his shot flew just wide of the right hand post. A minute later and Glenister got the slightest of touches to a Poole corner and the ball sneaked into the net to give the Dolphins a glimmer of light.

It was backs to the wall now for Poppies as they got everyone back to defend the lead. Good work from Hogan on 87 minutes saw him feed a ball through Trefor Smith and his shot was superbly tipped round the post for a corner. And in injury time Glenister did well down the right and crossed in a superb ball which found the head of Benssaouda but went just over the bar.

Not the most important game of the season by any means but much for Tommy Killick to ponder ahead of next Saturday's big league game at home to Cowes Sports.

Poole: Frampton, Whitley, Gilbert, Skelton, Hogan, Funnell (Sturgess), C. Smith, Saadi (Benssaouda), T. Smith, Strong (Diallo), Glenister