Poole Town 2 v 0 Swindon Supermarine

County Cup

 

Tonight was billed as the big celebration, picking up 2 trophies  and deservedly so. How often do these situations have a spanner thrown in the works by losing the game

Surely that couldn’t happen?  What do you mean Walker isn’t playing? I don’t care how far he’s run in his own time. Who’s his replacement?

Oh

Swindon started the brighter and within 2 minutes Killick was shown to have an embarrassment of riches in the goalkeeping department.

A stunning shot from their number 6 glanced off a defender’s head and stand in keeper Tom Brown did amazingly well to tip the ball over the bar

4 minutes later he was in action again. Again it was number 6 that shot, this time into the bottom left of the goal and Brown did well to get over and push away, especially as the ball bounced just before reaching him

It wasn’t until the 13^th minute that Poole had their first meaningful attack with a corner headed on by Dibba (Walker’s replacement) but no-one was able to latch on to it.

A pitch more bobbly than a 14 year olds’ forehead wasn’t helping control but Poole’s passing was poor with even the simplest passing going awry.

Passing through midfield wasn’t working and so long ball after long ball was fired up for Preston to run onto but clearly Swindon had done their homework and double teamed him to keep any threat at bay.

Swindon were having the better of possession and chances and will long rue missing 2 chances in 2 minutes on 26 minutes as first a free header and then a free shot from inside the box were inexplicably sent wide.

The first piece of home class was shown by a great turn and drive by Preston who was unlucky to have his shot blocked

 

This coincided with Pippa  joining the RWA and finally getting some volume out of the worryingly quiet regulars

It was still Swindon, however, doing most of the pressing and worryingly Poole’s defence started arguing amongst themselves

An old head on old shoulders Taff realised that the mood needed lightening and when pulled up for a foul, produced a Punch and a Judy doll from his socks and in his best Punch voice shouted “he just kicked my leg!!!”

Probably the most I have ever laughed at anything.

The half ended nil-nil and Taff’s cameo aside, there was very little to remember so I decided to break my tee-total intention in the hope that if the second half wasn’t any better – maybe I would still think it was.

As with all Poole games I have seen this season, Poole came out stronger in the second half and Devlin and Preston were slowly starting to take control

It was Devlin on 55 minutes that tried to get onto Soccer AM’s showboat slot with a quick round of keepy-uppy on the edge of the box before shooting low to the keeper’s left and it was well saved

2 minutes later Preston weaved his magic on the left and charged into the box. Instead of floating the ball over he fired it in low and hard into the 6 yard box only for the hapless number 4 to turn it into his own net.

The RWA were in full voice now but I feel they do need work on their diction because as I was joining in to their chorus of “where’s your quiche gone?” I couldn’t help but feel that couldn’t be right

Poole were in the ascendency now and were growing in confidence and control.

On 64 minutes Preston  was elbowed in the head to prevent him getting to the by-line and Devlin stepped up to take the kick from the left.

A low-ish cross (still too high for their number 10 – officially the smallest player I can remember seeing since my son’s under 12’s game) found its way to Spetch who turned sharply to strike it into the bottom right of the goal. Very nice, very nice indeed

The RWA redeemed themselves with a bellowing of “We’re putting holes in your Swindon submarine” and “Can we play you later this weeeeek?”, drowned out only by the gentleman to my left who spent the rest of the match shouting ”Shut up number 5!!” (maybe a Short Circuit fan?)

Summary: A performance of a team that has already won everything, with nothing really to play for, but still able to win. I can see why Swindon are right up there but when it mattered, Poole were just more clinical

Star Man : Brooks – Playing deeper than usual due to the Marathon reshuffle he was solid at the back  and looked a threat when going forward

An extra mention for Dibba – I gave him some fearful stick the last time I saw him as it appeared he’d put his boots on the wrong feet but today, despite a couple of wobbly moments when the ball was on the ground, was dominant in the air and showed the potential that he has

Oi, get your hands off Eloise - that's my daughter!!!

 

We are going up !!