DORSET SENIOR CUP - QUARTER FINAL
TUESDAY 9TH DECEMBER 2014
POOLE TOWN 9 VERWOOD TOWN 0

A stormy night greeted the fixture. Unrelated was the absentee list of Kelly (working), Evans (injury from Saturday), Buck (Medical), Groves (working), and Foster (Debilitated).

James Collins took the gloves from Lynch and up stepped some more of our younger players.

We started well with Satterley and Whelan linking to create an opportunity for a shot but the finish from Satterley hit defenders and bounced clear.

Guthrie showed signs of troubling his marker with a good run and getting in a cross from the edge of the box but Fisk was blocked from a shot by a strong tackle.

Then we got hit on the break as Poole maximised a thin back four and a cross from the left found an unmarked player in the box. Collins did well to get a finger tip to the shot but the ball finished up in the back of the net 0-1.

We lost the ball from the re start and while some of the players were recovering from going behind, Poole clinically cut through the central area and went two up with a good finish.

Soaking wet and two down after 11 minutes wasn't Carl Poore's idea of a good night out.

Kimber and Whelan worked the mid field and made a break bringing Guthrie into play. Guthrie's cross dropped in the penalty box but we couldn't capitalise and a big boot made sure of keeping us from scoring.

The rain continued to pour down. The pitch becoming heavier didn't help and an increasing wet surface compounded problems for balance..

Poole continued to dominate and with 22 minutes gone a through ball split our defence allowing a runner to close in on goal and slot the ball past Collins for number three.

30 minutes another long ball over the top and Poole players got behind us. Collins raced from his box but to no avail. The ball slipped into the bottom corner … 0-4.

We had a brief flurry of attacking activity with Whelan whipping in a left footer. The ball skidded wrong side of the post.

Three minutes of the half left and a pass across our box was intercepted … 0-5.

Half Time 0-5.

49 minutes a high ball into the box produced a melee with headers and half clearances the order of the day. Finally a hook shot flew past Collins 0-6.

A minute later Carl Poore decided to go for a wholesale change and give our young players on the bench a run.

On came Tyler Rutten … Matt Lusted … and Fraser Read. Off … Ben Satterley ..James Murray .. Kris Anderton.

It didn't stop Poole from going further ahead. A five minute interlude and we went 0-7 down when we lost a cross field pass and a clear run on goal resulted in Collins being beaten again.

For a ten minute spell we thought the ball had been kicked out of play. We hadn't seen it. Then Gajic spotted a dropping orb. A well timed header brought us back in contention.

Rutten took up the challenge of retrieving the ball and won a tussle on the line. Lusted backed up and cut inside mid field before releasing Whelan for a run on goal. A rising shot went just over the top.

Kimber won the header, a clipped ball over the back gave Guthrie space and a well placed cross into the box was just too far ahead for Fisk to get to.

Read blocked a run down Poole's right. Gajic backed up and collected a good pass. A cross field ball found Dyer. Dyer's turn took him past his marker but the shot from just outside the box whistled wide.

Poole decided to bring on a sub with 500 games under his belt for Sutton. Our subs conversely boasted 500 games for Verwood's Brownies. Non-the -less the lads earned every respect for effort and showing growing skills.

Gajic having a battle in the middle won the next couple of tackles and McGilchrist did well to cover when Poole broke free.

81 minutes and a dropped ball on the penalty spot. Gajic tried to clear then Read tried a high clearance. Bodies were in the way. Back it came. A half volley hit the post and the rebound was carefully tucked away. 0-8.

Carl Poore urged the players forward. We pushed up. Could we get a quick 9 ?

92 minutes the answer was no. Poole however went free on a one on one and they finished the game just in front sending them through into the semi final.

Result 0-9

Report submitted by Bernard Scott