#dolphins 2 v 1 #Biggleswade

This was my second Poole Town game in a week – does this mean that I’m now allowed into the RWA clan? – I was allowed to sit on the “regulars” bench – it fair brought a tear to my eye

Not, in fairness, as much as watching the ex-team mascot drink his bodyweight in lager, except for the pint that he threw over his lifelong chauffeur (and there’s no “indication” of an end to that)

Still, from those of us in the know, bravo sir!!!!

The game started with the usual handshakes which are normally boring but for the Cann hang-time after the formalities were over….

 

So, we’re playing a side with a comic name that I’ve never heard of – this is going to be easy, right?

Well, the way the game started, you’d think so. In the first 2 minutes Devlin, Gillespie and Preston all had smart, low shots all well save by the Biggleswade keeper, who would get my opposition man of the match nomination

The first 15 minutes were all Poole with the ball hardly making it out of the opposition half, spurred on by rousing shouts of “winners winners winners” from the defence that have bonded as if there never was a #terra in their midst…

One time Biggleswade did make it out of their half their number 11 (Woolf?) screamed “how many more times?” at a perceived foul – I shouted “it’s only been 10 minutes” and he looked like he was going to reply but decided against it – good man – restraint is something to be applauded

Biggleswade’s first chance came on 15 minutes when a good move down the right fell to Lewis (No 8) and he fired over the bar from the edge of the box

On 19 minutes a cross from the left was met with a full blooded header from Davies which the keeper did well to parry but the ball fell to Gillespie whose point blank shot was again brilliantly saved – who were we up against, Joe Hart? (ok true we’d be winning by now….)

On 24 minutes, superman turned into the great spectator as he could do nothing to stop Poole Town from finally taking the lead.

A ball was played into Preston with his back to goal on the edge of the box and he collected, pirouetted and smashed it into the top right corner. There were some isolated calls for offside but even the keeper looked like he applauded as he picked the ball up – a touch of class from him as it looked like it needed that kind of strike to beat him

The game seemed to play itself out for the rest of the half with the unthinkable happening – Biggleswade were coming back into it

A couple of half chances saw shots go straight at Thomas and marginally wide but the best chance came in injury time when Preston was harshly adjudged to have fouled just outside the box and the resultant free kick was struck well by Daniel (No 6) and was well held by Thomas to his right

While we’re at it, I was surprised to see Devlin play after his previous red, especially as Hutchings hadn’t made the team. I suppose maybe Hutchings  is still sitting in the naughty corner….

Half time and it’s 1-0 and all looking pretty good for Poole

Poole started confidently in the second half with Preston and Gillespie causing havoc with their intelligent runs -  both having chances just going wide, with Gillespie going closest on 63 minutes as he cut in from the right and sent a low shot crashing towards to the corner, only for super-keeper to save again

Then something happened. It could be a coincidence. It might not, but the captain was substituted for Byerley.

Now I’m no fan of a captain playing up front – to me it’s like having the parrot steer the pirate ship rather than Blackbeard.

But the change was made and not for the good as far as Poole was concerned

Poole forgot how to pass, tackle, shoot, run, walk, stand, swear………

But that’s doing Biggleswade an injustice. A team that had looked disjointed all of sudden pulled together and gelled like team that really WANTED to win

Reminiscent of the Bayern / Chelsea game Biggleswade lay siege on the Poole goal and only resolute defence kept Biggleswade out, until just the 83^rd minute when a cross from the left caused mayhem in the penalty box and Reed poked home from close range

The score was now 1-1 and no-one could deny that they deserved it – I just hoped that we could hold on for the draw

It was back against the wall until the 90^th minute, when Poole broke against the run of play and got  a corner

In fairness, when the whistle went I’d hoped it was the end of the game. I’d only been to one game this season and that had stopped Poole’s 100% results so I didn’t want to bring any worse to the team

But as the ball was floated over, James Whisken staked his claim to be new cult hero as he soared above the Biggleswade defence and powered his header towards goal. Then, Gillespie, like a goal poaching ninja snuck in between two defenders vying to clear the ball and headed it home from close range

Against the run of play, against all odds, Poole had won 2-1

Summary – A very good first half but concentration went in the second and a game which should have been easily won in the first 45 could so easily have been lost. As I write this, I’m still metaphorically scratching my head as to how they pulled this result out. Hopefully this will be a valuable lesson learnt today – the game is a 90 minute game and at this level, any dip in focus will see points slip through fingers

Star Man – Gillespie – Not only for the last minute goal (although this did help) but for the tireless, clever running that had the Biggleswade defence not know whether they were coming or going

 

Action Picture

 

Poole Town Fans enjoying a cola

 

 

#dolphins 2 v 2 #terras

A hot Bank Holiday Monday – what could better than El Jurassico – Poole against Weymouth. With Walker and Burbidge having moved from Poole to Weymouth in the close season there was a little extra spice, with some light hearted booing coming from the home fans

Tuna fishing has got a bad reputation recently as Dolphins are often caught up in the nets – today the fishermen of Poole must have been confused as either a tuna fish or the smallest porpoise known to man led the teams out (sorry Alex)

The game kicked off with Weymouth showing a move straight from the training ground – one pass to another then a hoof for a goal kick – class

The Weymouth fans took up the bus shelter behind the goal and were in fine voice, even with a drum. The red and white army were strangely subdued despite Poole’s brighter start

On 7 minutes Poole actually had the ball in the net as Devlin went up with the keeper and the shot-stopper inexplicably threw the ball into his own net, only for a free kick to be given against Devlin – the first weird decision of the day but definitely not the last

Weymouth then came much more into the game and were having a lot of success down the right wing. Poole were left with half chances on the break with Preston being the leading light – if only the strikers gambled more to get into the box surely his work would have been rewarded.

On 30 minutes Yelton was presented with Weymouth’s best chance but he air shot his right foot volley from 6 yards – no doubt blinded by Hutchings’ garish kit – a kit so bright not even the Millwall kit man could miss it…

The ball spent so much time at the other end of the pitch in the Poole area I started looking for looky likeys in the crowd – I spotted Rod Stewart but I was advised not to publish the picture….

On 40 minutes a Poole free kick from the left was tucked in by Spetch on the far post – another curious decision ensued because it didn’t look like it had been flicked on at any point so offside seemed almost an impossibility

With just seconds to go in the first half, far too much time was given to Weymouth on the right (again) and the resultant cross went in (somehow) off Yelton (or is it Yetton, according to sky) to put the Terras deservedly in the lead

Half Time 0-1

In my haste to get to my now best friend (Flakey), who had got the beers in, I almost missed Brett Pitman, Jason Pearce and Warren Cummings in the crowd but later I saw Brett display a hitherto unseen turn of speed – what a pity it was to get to the ice-cream van rather than bearing down on a Championship goal

The second half started and within 4 minutes the game seemed over. The ball bounced high and Devlin jumped at the ball against his opponent and the Weymouth midfielder went down as if shot by a sniper

It must be bad, we all thought, he’s not moved a muscle. The presentation of the straight red card, however, seemed as magical as the old school cold, wet sponge because as soon as it was brandished, the guy jumped up like he’d been given an electric shock and took up his position

“It’s a miracle” we all thought, even if It did come out “referee you’ve been conned you *&^%$”

Oh well – damage limitation time

No – Not on Tom Killick’s 500^th game. Instead he took off Oliver and Elliott and brought on Brooks and Gillespie – surely the most attacking changes he could have made

On 56 minutes Preston fired over the bar and 3 minutes later, the unbelievable happened. A low cross was fired in from the right and Gillespie, like any true goal poacher, ran through the 6 yard box and met the ball with a cheeky back-heel that wrong footed the keeper and spun the ball into the bottom left corner of the goal

Poole had equalised – with 10 men!!!

Three minutes later a Weymouth cross from the right was turned in at the far post but the Weymouth cheers were cut short by the linesman’s offside flag.

The Red and White Army were still mocking the Weymouth fans by “pretending” they had scored, when Poole did it for real!!!

This time it was Cann that split the defence with an inch perfect pass to Gillespie, who controlled the ball and slotted it past the on-rushing keeper to make the game 2-1

I’ve said it once but it’s worth reiterating – this is with 10 MEN !!

I thought that important to mention as it wasn’t 10 for long. The referee seemed to book Hutchings for time wasting and then, from where I stood, Hutchings seemed to tap the ref on the head sarcastically.

Now, I was a long way away, so maybe this wasn’t how it happened – to be fair, as I write this it seems so ridiculously stupid that it couldn’t have happened, could it? Either way, the yellow turned red and off he trot (well, walked)

Thomas took his place which meant that Davies was sacrificed which was a real shame for him as he was having a blinder.

10 men on a hot day is hard, 9 men is nigh on impossible. Luckily for Poole the ref decided that they’d been penalised enough so that even had they’d set about Weymouth with a baseball bat, no decisions would go against them

Even with the referee back on side – it was never going to be enough and it was the former Poole Winger Burbidge that made the extra man count. Cutting in from the right he smashed his shot into the top left corner. With 10 men outfield maybe he could have been closed down – with 8 there was no chance – in fairness it was a very good goal

It was backs against the wall for the last 12 minutes and the whistle came to Poole’s relief

Summary – A poor start and some indifferent refereeing decisions went against Poole but the spirit they showed when down to 10 men should bear them in good stead for the games to come

Star Man – An easy choice would be Gillespie for the 2 goals but for me the player that made things happen and was the difference on the day was Preston – a real threat all day

 

Poole unveil new terracing