Pre match drinks was improved today by Hemel fans joining in and having a natter
They were cautiously optimistic despite some less than quality performances (their words not mine) and didn't even raise an eyebrow at the High Ho song - good effort I reckon
I stood in the new stand behind the goal first half and the RWA didn't take long to discover and appreciate the acoustics of the place.
I was more intrigued in their number 8 and number 9. They reminded me of the Schwarzenegger/Devito movie "Twins" and I'm sure 9 must be cheesed off with 8 bench pressing him all the time (beast)
The game kicked off and the opening 10 minutes were even(ish) with both sides forcing easy saves from the respective keepers but although shot numbers were even, possession certainly wasn't
The relentless number of games Poole are having to play was already showing as Hemel were quicker to every ball and always had options when on the ball, whereas Poole looked pedestrian in comparison
Good sides capitalise on any advantage and Hemel are better than good and so on 13 minutes the almost inevitable happened
A through ball had their attacker chasing and although I was a LONG way away, it seemed like Thomas hesitated and by the time he decided to go at the ball it was too late
Their player got there first and smacked the ball over the diving keeper. To his dismay the ball struck the underside of the bar and bounced out but, as shown for the full 90 minutes, when attacking Hemel attack with pace and in numbers and so it was Mackey who got there first to tap it in
It was a hard enough task to get anything out of this game having played twice midweek and playing the champions elect and this was a real, very visible body blow 0-1
Heads dropped, panic set in.
Players stopped running and when they did run, control was all over the place
Don't get me wrong, this wasn't just about Poole imploding, Hemel went for the jugular and just ran the show
First to every ball the movement patterns of their attack was a joy to behold making our defence run and run, pulling them out of position and making them make decisions that they just didn't want to make
While Hemel were putting together 10-12 pass moves together including showboat back heels and then making Thomas make up for the goal with at least 2 very good stretching saves, the best that Poole could muster was a hoof up front and hope for the best
With the massive back 4 Hemel had it just wasn't the right tactic and they mopped up what was thrown at them
Half Time 0-1
Second half started and we noticed that their Harte lookalike of a keeper started the same as he did for the first half - tensed as if expecting a shot straight from the kickoff
Had he not watched the first half - that wasn't going to happen
We were still hopeful though - maybe Killick would work his magic again
As the ball struck the underside of Thomas' goal for the second time this game just 3 minutes into the second half we all looked at ourselves and winced
It was turning into a car crash - the kind of thing you don't want to watch but you just can't help yourself
The viewing got worse on 56 minutes as the frustrated Devlin was replaced by Chiedozie
The shirt came off in disgust like it did last time he was subbed at home but this time he went one step further by spitting his dummy fully over the fence and storming off
We all know he wears his heart on his sleeve and admire his passion but the team should always be put ahead of the player
Killick is the manager and it was his decision. Devlin's job was to abide by that decision and then turn his attention to supporting the rest of the team
Unashamedly, I will admit that he is my favourite Poole Town player, but today he not only let me down, he let his team and ultimate!y himself down
He's a big man and a big player and I reckon he'll know this already and will have apologised to everyone - we all have weak moments and it's how we react to those moments that can define a season
I've spent way too much time on this already but quite frankly apart from this and the absolutely inevitable Hemel second goal that came on 71 minutes there is very little else to talk about
The goal came from a route 1 long ball, flicked on for Mackey again who had the coolness of thought to slot easily past Thomas 0-2
The last 20 minutes Poole, who had done very little as an attacking force, just had nothing left
Right near the end you could hear Gillespie shouting "stop them taking the p**s out of us" because that was what was happening
Just walking around the pitch, keeping the ball moving and letting all players wander wherever they wanted Poole just couldn't get a sniff
It was an ending that just hurt, and Killick will earn every penny of his wages if he can pick this team up for 2 midweek away games
Final Score 0-2
Summary : When game after game was postponed we all agreed that this alone would put off any chances of automatic promotion
You would have to be superhuman to play 3 games a week while continuing as a plasterer / brickie etc and so it proved today
However, despite this damning report - there is a positive to be spoken about
Hemel are the runaway leaders and will get promoted automatically this season. Poole have hundreds of home games left and although tricky, none will be as difficult as this game as no other side are as good as them in this league
We must, MUST, draw a line under this performance (not result) and move on knowing that we are capable of beating any team that lines up in front of them from now on
Tiredness will be a factor, squad rotation will be key and I have no doubt Poole will end the season in a play off spot
What is essential though, is when those pay-offs start we have a full, injury free and rested squad in order to fulfill the dream of back to back promotions
Star Man - Stephen Fakley - you may not have heard of him but he is the guy that selflessly left the dismal first half early in order to get the beers in. Undoubtedly the best service I witnessed from any Poole resident today :-)
