Another away game for the Dolphins as this week they travelled to lowly Hamble Assc in their search for another three points. Aaron Skelton and Steve Smith both started the game with Stuart Brown and Taffy Richardson starting on the bench.

From the start it was clear that Hamble were without key players and they did look poor for much of the game. Steve Smith had a volley go wide in the opening minute but at the other end some poor defending allowed Hamble a couple of clear chances with Harvell pulling off a fine save to keep the home side out.

On 4 minutes Gill and Poore combined on the right and when Poore produced a great cross into the box Carl Preston was just unable to finish at the far post. Three minutes later and after retaining the ball for more than six seconds Poole were awarded a freekick inside the Hamble area. Skelton stepped up and found the corner from a slight deflection. 1-0 to Poole.

A Hubbard corner nearly brought about another goal when Lamin Dibba's header was pushed away for another corner. However, a quick break from Hamble saw their player brought down inside the Poole box and there was no arguments when the referee awarded a penalty. After some psyching out by Harvell the Hamble player dragged his spot kick tamely wide of the post and Poole were off the hook.

Two minutes after this the points were secure. Steve Smith raced away down the left wing, cut in and produced an exquisite lob from 25 yards which found the right hand corner of the net. It was all Poole from this point on and chances and shots flew in from everywhere. On 28 minutes another Poole ball bounced over the onrushing keeper as he tried to head the ball away and Charlie Austin had the simplest of finishes to to make it 3-0 which is how it stayed to the half time whistle.

Half time: 0-3

It was all one-way traffic again in the second half with another host of chances being missed by Poole. On 47 minutes Preston had a superb shot saved and Austin failed to connect with the rebound. It was Austin again a couple of minutes later who put a header over the bar and a few minutes after that he chested the ball down to Steve Smith and this time it was his shot that went just wide of the post.

Taffy Richardson and Andy Culliford replaced Skelton and Gill on 59 minutes and the fourth goal came a few minutes later when Preston produced a magical run down the left and his cross was cracked home by Austin on the volley. The final goal came in injury time when Austin sent both Stu Brown and Steve Smith racing clear. Brown darted into the box from the right and with the keeper unable to cover both players he squared for Steve Smith to walk the ball into an empty net.

A solid performance from Poole against a poor side but in all honesty Poole could and should have scored a lot more.