Like a horn blast across Dorset, the signal was there for all beer drinkers to hear, the Poole Town bar was finally open
Create a bar, and they will come - and they did in their numbers
Beers on tap, beers in the can, INSIDE WORKING toilets and oh yes, did I mention they had beer?
Wee Simmo was the only one disappointed pre match as Phil, whose round it was, was pulled behind the bar to help out which he manfully did, without actually telling him
Once the penny dropped and he got his own in, he only had 5 minutes to sink a pint of reasonably priced San Miguel but of course, that was at least 3 minutes longer than he needed...
On the way down Steve and I discussed our girly dilemma of what to wear for the evening and we both got it wrong
My boob tube and his off the shoulder number in no way kept out the cold and we wished we hadn't been fooled by such a fine sunny day
Poole started the brighter and it was good to see Burbidge pushed forward for a change and it was his shot in the first minute that showed the home team's intent but he dragged the ball just wide
Poole were sharper all over the pitch and even Elliott who I'd previously criticised as having the gentle first touch of a sledgehammer was doing well linking up with the midfield
Corners were also causing the Hitchin defence all sorts of problems despite their height advantage, mostly because of Brooks' zebedee like leaps but it was Wannell that went closest after 8 minutes, putting his header wide
Not normally worth a mention except the header did manage to smash a sickly sweet smelling energy drink out of the guy's hand next to me causing a very pleasing fountain effect
Not quite as pleasing, though, as when Wee Simmo forgot that he was stood in a roofed area 2 minutes later and attempted to kick the ball in the air with the ball's ricochet taking out half of the RWA
Talking of which it was an evening where the RWA regained their voice and passion for the game and that was so good to hear
Although very much on top, Poole struggled to get anything on target although I bet on 20 minutes their number 2 wished Dev's pile driver HAD tested the keeper, rather than catching him in the "gentleman's area"
Quite frankly I'd have wanted to be stretchered off so the fact he was back on his feet just a few eye watering minutes later was testament to his determination
Besides, the local choirs are always after someone who can hit that top C so every cloud and all that ....
Preston had the next Poole chance but his shot was brilliantly blocked by the tracking defender and on 37 minutes it was again time for the impressive Burbidge to shine
Cutting in from the right, having played a smart 1-2 he belted the ball towards goal and the keeper made an excellent low save, clinging on to the ball as poacher Brooks sniffed for a spillage
A minute later it was he that turned provider by crossing the ball in low from the right and you'll not see a more relieved man than their number 5 as his sliced clearance looped up, bounced on the bar and into the crowd
The RWA pounced in the ball before Alex had the chance to do it all again....
Just before the half time whistle Burbidge crowned a first class first half display by appearing this time on the left, cutting inside and unleashing a ferocious shot to the far corner which the keeper was at full stretch to tip round the post
Half Time 0-0
We were all disappointed that, as the second half started, we saw Chiedozie on the pitch instead of Burbidge
Not just because Burbidge had been the stand out player of the first half, but because Chiedozie had looked a little tired (lazy) in previous games and this was no time to take your foot off the pedal
My mate Steve is the next person to trouble my note taking as he cheered wildly at what he saw as a Hitchin shot that went horribly wrong - If only he'd seen their player on the left who collected the ball BEFORE the whooping started
Luckily we had a crowd commentator next to us for the second half so we were left in no doubt as to how the rest of the game was going....
On 51 minutes a slick through ball had Chiedozie running through with a great chance until an awful first touch sent him so wide that when the shot came in, the angle was so tight the keeper blocked his options and the ball went for a corner
I was just commenting that it must be time someone else learned to take a corner as Devlin must run miles every game to take them all when in the ball came
After a blocked shot and a half clearance the ball fell to Elliott who thumped the ball through a crowd of players to put the home side 1 up
Thank goodness for that!!
Five minutes later a Hitchin fan walked past and shouted at their number 3 "go on Gazza - skin him"
I looked at their 3 - worst Gazza impersonator ever - no fake boobs, fishing rod OR packet of sandwiches
The remainder of the game had Poole in charge but really lacking that cutting edge
Davies came on for Devlin and Gillespie came on for Elliott but neither made a real impact on the game
The Hitchin fans got more and more frustrated at their perceived bias of the ref towards Poole so it did make me smile as they cheered like madmen as they were awarded a throw in - class
The last moment of note was for their striker
Luckily for him I couldn't see what number he was to fully name and shame but as my mate said - he produced a move that was a "mixed bag" towards the end
Firstly, he brilliantly controlled a long ball that looped over his head with his left foot, then he shinned it to the touch line
Showing a surprising turn of pace he got to the ball and went past the defender, only to trip over his own feet and fall over as he went, unchallenged, to cross the ball
You just can't teach that
Final Score 1-0
Summary - A far better performance than I have seen recently and it was bizarre that the goal came in the second half when Poole were far more dominant in the first half
It seemed a much more balanced side with more players playing their preferred positions which made everyone look just more comfortable
Fatigue is still the key for this season and it worries me that the second half was less dynamic than the first, especially as Poole have such a difficult game on Thursday
Maybe they were just saving their energy, maybe......
Star Man - Had he stayed on the pitch it would probably have gone to Burbidge but instead I'm awarding it to Brooks for marshalling the front line so well and making such good runs and creating space for the team to run into
Only a goal was missing from a quality performance
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