A three all draw would suggest an entertaining game but unfortunately this match only left a sour taste in the mouth as a) Poole managed to gift the home side two points in the last five minutes and b) Bemerton continued their thuggish behaviour which accompanied the same fixture back in March - (check that match report for details of that game).

Poole took the lead as early as the third minute. A Dan Cann corner was knocked back out to him and when he delivered a deep cross to the far post the ball was knocked back across the goal and Steve Smith got the last touch as the ball was bundled over the line. It was probably the worst thing Poole could do because, as we have seen before with Bemerton, if they don't think they can win a game by playing football they will waste no time in resorting to brutish and late challenges in an attempt to intimidate the other side.

On 6 minutes Bemerton did counter attack very well and a diagonal ball from left to right set up one of their strikers who hit a good shot which fizzed past the left hand post. The tackles were flying in all over the place from the home side and time and again a foot was left in late to inflict maximum damage. The tall number 10 in particular was putting himself about all over the pitch and twice left Luke Whitley writhing on the ground. One yellow card was eventually given to him and other challenges from the same player in the first half should have brought the second yellow - he had no right being on the pitch.

On 22 minutes Culliford cut in and his left foot cross was met by the head of Steve Smith but the ball went harmlessly over the bar. On 33 minutes Trefor Smith nicked the ball off a defender and ran in towards goal. His shot was saved by the keeper's legs and went for a corner. Dan Cann took a short corner to Trefor and as Cann ran around on the overlap Trefor played it back to him. Cann took a couple of strides and hit a fine left foot shot into the left hand corner.

Half time: 0-2.

Dave Sturgess replaced an injured Pete Smith at half time and after suffering more late challenges Trefor Smith hobbled off on 56 minutes to be replaced by Shane Ayres. Four minutes later and Chris Smith was left on the deck by another awful challenge - this time from the Bemerton number 4. The whole Bemerton attitude was summed up as the number 4 walked away from the referee after getting his yellow card when the number 10 applauded his colleague and urged him to keep doing the same thing. It was disgraceful to see and why the Bemerton bench kept the number 10 on the pitch when it was quite obvious that he wouldn't see out 90 minutes was unbelievable. He lasted another five minutes. Another late challenge on Whitley saw him given a second yellow and therefore red. Skipper Ian Richardson was also given a yellow for retaliation but the fact is the number 10 should have been off long before it got that far. Whitley hobbled off and was replaced by Poole's only other substitute, striker Rico Wilson.

Things got worse for Poole on 75 minutes when the most bizarre goal was awarded against them. A Bemerton player was chasing a lost cause down the left hand side. The ball clearly went at least three feet over the goal line before the player crossed it into the box. It was clearly a goalkick and as the ball came into the box a Bemerton player toe prodded it into the net. He could have been accused of kicking the ball away but instead the referee and linesman both allowed the goal to stand. It was a terrible decision that even saw the home players laughing.

Poole hit back and a minute later an Ayres cross was headed just wide by Wilson. Two minutes later and Poole got their third. Andy Culliford again did well and played a low ball into Wilson. He produced a neat trick to get past the defender and as his shot was blocked by the keeper Gary Funnell raced in to side foot home.

83 minutes gone and Funnell won the ball in midfield and Shane Ayres chipped the keeper from 35 yards only to see the ball drop just over the bar. 88 minutes gone and with a 3-1 lead against ten men Poole should have just kept the ball and played the match out. For some bizarre reason every player kept pushing forward across the pitch, running around at a hundred miles an hour looking for yet another goal. It wasn't necessary and with a depleted defence it was suicidal. Ian Richardson got caught out to allow a right foot shot to go in off the far post and even with a single goal lead Poole failed to appreciate that they just had to see out the game. Deep into injury time and they got caught again and Bemerton  secured an unlikely draw.

No doubt about it - Poole threw away two points in this game and for that they will be bitterly disappointed. For me the overriding feeling was one of anger at the behaviour (yet again) of the Bemerton team (and their bench which was no better). No wonder they average just 57 at home in the league this season - I wouldn't pay to watch that every week either. 

Poole: Harvell, Whitley (Wilson), I. Richardson, Yelland, Funnell, P. Smith (Sturgess), C. Smith, Culliford, T. Smith (Ayres), Cann, S. Smith

Poole took the lead after just five minutes. It was Trefor Smith cutting in from the right hand side who then squared the ball to Dan Cann on the edge of the box and his left foot shot found the right hand corner of the net beyond the despairing dive of Peters in the United goal. Poole continued to play well in the first half, dominating possession and giving Hamworthy the run around for long periods.

On 35 minutes Yelland made a good run down the right and his low cross eluded a couple of players before finding Andy Culliford but his shot was deflected just wide for a corner. The resulting corner saw the ball break out to Trefor Smith on the edge of the box and he took a touch before delivering a shot which took a deflection and found the back of the net.

Hamworthy's best chance came just two minutes later when a freekick was met with a free header and Harvell got up well to tip the ball over the bar for a corner. Poole got into lots of other good positions as the half wore on and probably should have been more than two up at the break.

Half time: 2-0.

Poole were not as good in the second half as they did just enough to keep the visitors at bay without ever really looking like conceding a goal. On 54 minutes Trefor Smith produced another fantastic run as he ghosted past three Hamworthy players before beating the keeper with a shot which was superbly cleared off the line by the Hamworthy skipper.

Pete Smith replaced Sturgess on 58 minutes which saw all three Smith brothers on the pitch for Poole. Steve Smith (no relation!) came on for Osborne shortly after. On 65 minutes Harvell handled a shot when outside of the box and everyone assumed he would be red carded for the offence. Even Taffy Richardson on the bench started asking manager Tom Killick if he should take over in goal but the referee only gave a yellow card which was a poor decision. Much has been made in the local press already by United manager Simkin of the referee's performance, but with the exception of this one decision he actually had a pretty good game - certainly better then most. Whether Harvell had been sent off or not would have had no impact on the final result as the Poole keeper was not called on at all for the remaining twenty five minutes.

Despite only running in second gear it was still Poole who created the better chances in the remaining part of the match. On 75 minutes Cann crossed from the right and Steve Smith headed straight at the keeper when in a good position and it was a Dan Cann freekick rocket on 78 minutes which brought a good save from the visiting keeper as he palmed it over the bar for corner.

Four wins out of four against Hamworthy in 2007 underline the slide they have been on since Alex Pike left as manager and Poole now look to Bemerton Heath on Saturday as they attempt to keep their grasp on top spot in the league. 

Poole: Harvell, Whitley, I. Richardson, Yelland, Funnell, Sturgess (P. Smith), C. Smith, Culliford, T. Smith, Cann (Wilson), Osborne (S. Smith)

This was a much better performance from the Dolphins with a lot more positivity about the play with numerous chances being created - it was good to see. In fairness to Horndean, unlike Cowes and Christchurch in Poole's previous two games, they didn't just set out to defend and they looked to attack at every opportunity. This obviously helped Poole as well as it made for a more open game with more space to work in.

Poole controlled possession for much of the first half but the Horndean defence was resolute and when the visitors did counter they looked both sharp and dangerous up front. On 17 minutes Luke Whitley played a neat ball into Culliford in the box and he set up a shot for Steve Smith which was well saved by the Horndean keeper. Six minutes later and Ian Richardson got forward into the Horndean box and he was causing all sorts of problems. The ball eventually fell to Steve Smith who was floored but the referee waved play on. Horndean immediately broke and just seconds later had a shot go wide of the left post when a goal looked likely.

Half time: 0-0.

Despite some rumblings from the Poole support about the lack of goals, the fact is that chances were being created and Poole were playing well. Therefore the chances would continue to come. They did. Just two minutes into the second half Poole took the lead. Some neat passing on the edge of the box eventually saw Sturgess slide a great ball through to Ben Osborne and he tucked it away into the corner. Three minutes later Whitley had an excellent run and shot fly just over the bat and a corner soon after saw Ian Richardson head just wide.

Aaron Skelton had picked up a knock in the first half and despite trying to carry on he was replaced by Karl Yelland on 53 minutes. On 58 minutes Poole doubled their lead - an excellent freekick was flighted into the box by Dan Cann and Dave Sturgess rose well to thump a header past the keeper. At this stage the mist and fog was seriously rolling in and it was impossible to see the far side of the pitch.

With twenty minutes to go Poole were two up and looked to be cruising to the three points. Four goals in that final twenty minutes actually made it quite nervy a couple of times. Firstly Harvell and a Horndean player both raced for the same ball. They both got there together but the attacker managed to recover from the collision quicker and got up to prod home for the visitors. On 79 minutes Luke Whitley stormed forward again and this time his shot went just wide of the post.

Despite being 2-1 up Poole were playing as though they were behind. Their play was almost frenetic as they rushed to take every goalkick and throw in. On 81 minutes after several corners the ball dropped out to Funnell and his right foot shot took a deflection which sent it just wide for yet another corner. Nothing came of it.

With seven minutes remaining Poole looked as though they had sealed it. Ben Osborne produced a brilliant run on the right and into the box. Three times he looked to have over-run the ball but three times he nipped the ball away from a defender to keep the run going. Eventually he passed to Chris Smith and although his snap shot was parried by the keeper Dave Sturgess was on hand to side foot home past a defender on the line.

A minute later and Horndean were awarded a penalty. From the stands it was impossible to see through the fog to see why it had been given but even the players from both sides were unsure after the game why it was given. Jason Harvell made a superb stop from the spot kick but the attacker scored from the rebound. 3-2 and it was game on again........... for just another minute. Within 60 seconds of the restart there was a hand ball in the Horndean box and Poole were awarded a penalty. Ian Richardson continued his amazing goalscoring run with another clinical penalty - the centre back's 12th goal of the season. Three goals in three minutes but at last the action was over. Poole played out the final five minutes and completed a pretty decent performance.

Special mention to the midfield who did very well on the night, topped by Dave Sturgess's excellent performance. Two goals, an assist and non-stop hard work all evening - Taffy would be proud!

Three points which ensure that Poole Town will be sat top of the league at Christmas. A fantastic and memorable first half to the season.

Poole: Harvell, Whitley, I. Richardson, Skelton (Yelland)), Funnell, Sturgess, C. Smith, Culliford, Cann (Ayres), S. Smith, Osborne (Wilson)

Another bitterly cold night and unfortunately there was no improvement from the Poole side during the first half from that seen just four days ago in the FA Vase. There was absolutely no incidents to report in the first forty five minutes. Both sides struggled to keep possession on an increasingly icy surface and again Poole just couldn't get their passing game going. But, like Saturday, the defence looked very composed and Christchurch failed to even make a half chance in the entire match. Steve Smith did produce a great turn in the box and fired over just before half time but it was barely a half chance.

Half time: 0-0.

The first five minutes of the second half showed no signs of improvement and therefore it was a great relief to see Dan Cann come off the bench after his period out with injury. As he moved to the left wing back role and Funnell moved inside instantly Poole looked a better side. Within five minutes of coming on Cann had produced two crosses into the box and also caused danger with his trademark long throw in. It wasn't much but it was a whole lot more than the entire first half.

On 57 minutes a ball was played into Ben Osborne's feet at speed in the box. He controlled it well and then turned his marker inside out before being hauled down for a penalty. Ian Richardson continued his amazing goalscoring of late by placing the ball low into the right corner. To be fair Poole deserved the lead based on their second half performance and they never looked liked conceding an equaliser.

On 63 minutes Culliford produced some good work before setting up Dan Cann but his powerful shot was pushed round the post by the home keeper. On 68 minutes new signing Wilson replaced Steve Smith up front.

Poole controlled possession during the last twenty five minutes without really threatening to add another goal. They should have sealed it right at the death however when Osborne was sent clear down the right. He waited until the defender came across to cover before squaring the ball beautifully for Wilson all on his own in the box. His first touch was disappointing however as he prodded the ball straight at the keeper and the chance was gone.

Still nowhere near the level of football they have played this season but another clean sheet and another crucial three points. Dan Cann is back too and that was probably the most positive bit of news from the night.

Poole: Harvell, Whitley, I. Richardson, Ayres (Cann), Funnell, Sturgess, C. Smith, Culliford, T. Smith, S. Smith (Wilson), Osborne

As reported widely throughout the press during the week Jason Harvell made his debut for Poole in goal. With Ben Osborne cup-tied, Stuart Brown started up front alongside Steve Smith.

Cowes were a lot more defensive in approach for this game after the 5-0 thrashing they got at home just two weeks previous by Poole. This decision is probably something they are regretting now as, given the poor Poole performance, a little more adventure from the visitors may well have seen them advance into the fourth round. Certainly, on this day, Poole were there to be taken.

The quality of football on offer from both sides was poor at best and, at times, dreadful. The first action of any kind didn't arrive until 22 minutes in when Poole scored the only goal of the game. Funnell delivered a great freekick from the left swinging it in behind the defence. Although the ball appeared to go through about ten players it was a vital last touch from skipper Ian Richardson which saw it cross the line. It was a soft goal for Cowes to concede and was to prove conclusive. A minute after the goal Poole attacked again and Steve Smith saw a volley whistle just over. There was nothing else worthy of note in the first half.

Half time: 1-0.

If Poole supporters expected better in the second half they were to be disappointed. There was simply no cohesion going forwards and the number of passes from one Poole player to another could probably be counted on one hand. Luckily for Poole, Cowes were little better and both sides contrived to give the ball away to each other all too often. On the plus side for Poole, Ian Richardson, Luke Whitley and Aaron Skelton were terrific at the back - clearing up every time they were called upon.

On 51 minutes it looked as though Cowes would equalise. A ball skidded across the face of the Poole six yard box and with everyone missing it, it fell to a Cowes player at the far post and his snap shot was amazingly kept out by a fantastic bit of defending by Whitley on the line.

Unfortunately the quality of the football rubbed off on the referee who was also very poor. He dished out six yellow cards to Cowes players and also added Chris Smith, Steve Smith and Gary Funnell to the book during the course of the game. Nine yellows and there wasn't a bad tackle in the game.   

On 70 minutes Leon Lima came on for Trefor Smith who had picked up a knock and Lima worked hard to try and retain possession up front. Still Poole gave the ball away too cheaply and this only encouraged Cowes to keep going. With twelve minutes remaining Cowes eventually beat the offside trap and their striker raced from the halfway line towards the Poole goal. Harvell stood tall for as long as possible and the eventual shot went past him but came back off the foot of the post before being cleared.

Thankfully Poole scrambled over the finish line with a one nil win. It's unlikely that Poole will play that bad again this season and still win, but credit to them - they've forged another victory and a home tie against Consett or Trafford is now set for January 19th.

Poole: Harvell, Whitley, I. Richardson, Skelton, Funnell, Sturgess, C. Smith, Culliford, T. Smith (Lima), S. Smith, Brown

Unfortunately no full match report available.

Summary as follows:-

15 mins - Brockenhurst take the lead with deflected freekick.
40 mins - Ian Richardson scores from the spot to level the game.
44 mins - Brockenhurst score great second goal to hold a half time lead.
Half time: 1-2
55 mins - Ryan Lucas equalises for Poole.
All Poole Town in the second half but Brockenhurst hold out.
85 mins - Steve Smith replaces Ryan Lucas
End of 90 mins: 2-2
105 mins - Leon Lima replaces Andy Culliford.
110 mins - Jordan Fisk replaces Gary Funnell.
Full time: 2-2.

Poole score with all four penalties from Ian Richardson, Steve Smith, Jordan Fisk and Ben Osborne. Brockenhurst score two but Adam Tong saves one and the other hits the woodwork.

Poole Town will now be at home to Romsey Town in the 3rd Round on 8th January 2008.

Poole: Tong, Whitley, I. Richardson, Skelton, Funnell (Fisk), Sturgess, C. Smith, Culliford (Lima), T. Smith, Lucas (S. Smith), Osborne

If Poole Town can beat Cowes Sports in the 3rd round, the 4th round of the FA Vase draw sees Poole Town at home to the winners of Consett V Trafford on 19th January 2008. Trafford are currently top of the North West Counties Division 1 having lost just one league game from 17 so far. Consett are currently top of the Northern League 1 with just 2 defeats from 19 in the league. Both play at Step 5 of the non-league pyramid - the same as Poole.

Despite not yet having played the 2nd round match, Poole Town will be away at the winners of Petersfield Town V Fareham Town in the quarter final if we can get past Brockenhurst in round 2 and Romsey Town in round 3.

New Signing

Manager Tom Killick has signed Bournemouth Poppies goalkeeper Jason Harvell with immediate effect.

Unfortunately no full match report available.

Summary as follows:-

5 mins - Culliford right foot shot from 15 yards gives Poole an early lead.
15 mins - Funnell produces yet another special left foot goal.
Plenty of other Poole chances in the first half as they could have led by four or five by half time.
Half time: 0-2
60 mins - Culliford and Yelland combine well - Yelland great cross and Steve Smith finishes. 0-3.
65 mins - Stuart Brown replaces Steve Smith.
70 mins - Leon Lima replaces Trefor Smith.
73 mins - Dave Sturgess feeds Stu Brown and his 30 yard volley finds the back of the net. 0-4.
75 mins - Jordan Fisk replaces Ian Richardson.
80 mins - Stu Brown sent off with straight red - no details on why.
88 mins - Dave Sturgess 25 yard drive for his first league goal of season.

Poole: Frampton, Whitley, Yelland, I. Richardson (Fisk), Funnell, Sturgess, C. Smith, Culliford, T. Smith (Lima), S. Smith (Brown), Osborne