Poole Town continued their incredible winning run as they marched past Wimborne Town to book a place in the Dorset Senior Cup Final. Manager Tom Killick fielded the exact same eleven as started the Wessex League Cup Quarter Final match against Wimborne some six weeks before and even the three substitutes that came on mirrored that very game. Therefore Andy Culliford, Stuart Brown and Taffy Richardson all started and Hubbard, Smith and Preston took up their places on the bench.

That was the only similarity between the two games however as Wimborne were a much different proposition this time around. They were up for it from the start and offered more in the first five minutes than they did in the entire previous game. Both sides started brightly but it was Wimborne who put together the better passing moves at the start of the match.

On six minutes Austin nutmegged a Wimborne defender and fed Kevin Gill. He clearly poked the ball away from a defender and was brought down by the trailing leg but the referee waved away what looked like a stonewall penalty.

Wimborne continued to look dangerous and on the quarter hour mark they had a freekick which beat Harvell but crashed back off the bar before being cleared away. The warning signs were there as Liam Green exerted a lot of influence during the first half. A blow for Wimborne followed as Scott Joyce went off injured and was replaced by Stokoe.

On 33 minutes a Poole freekick was punched clear by Wimborne keeper Walker-Harris and Andy Culliford was unlucky when his immediate hook dropped just over the bar. Poole did take the lead however just three minutes later when Stuart Brown was sent clear and although his first touch took him away from goal slightly his finish was superb, across the keeper into the bottom left corner. This was how it remained to half time.

Half time: 0-1

Wimborne continued to look impressive in the second half as they worked hard to get back on level terms. Poole were guilty of giving the ball away too cheaply at times and Wimborne always looked capable of taking advantage. The defence and Harvell were tested far more than in most matches this season and on 61 minutes the Magpies were level. A freekick outside the box was hit sweetly by Tom Arnold and it crashed into the right corner to the delight of the Wimborne fans. Preston had already replaced Culliford and soon Hubbard came on for Skelton (71 minutes) and Steve Smith replaced Stu Brown on 76 minutes.

Almost immediately Wimborne took the lead. Pete Smith in particular caused Poole all sorts of problems in the second half and another of his runs saw the ball eventually roll across to Dan Cann on the edge of the box and he curled the ball past Harvell to put Wimborne ahead.

Poole were really up against it now and with Dibba already booked from the first half yellows soon followed for Hubbard, Gill and Poore as well as several Wimborne players. On 86 minutes Harvell pulled off a fine save to deny Stokoe and keep Poole in the game. Deep into injury time a Hubbard freekick disappeared into a clutch of players and Austin managed to force the ball home to push the game into extra time.

This gave Poole the lift they needed and the Dolphins just about shaded extra time although both sides looked pretty much spent. On 98 minutes Steve Smith had a shot just over and on 105 minutes Stokoe got clear on the left but scooped his shot high over the Poole bar.

Penalties looked odds on but with just three minutes remaining it was another Hubbard set piece as his corner found the head of Austin who thumped it home to give Poole the win.

This was a terrific cup tie with plenty of skill and commitment from both sides. Neither side really deserved to lose but perhaps it was the 'never say die' attitude that Killick's men have generated through this season that just about edged it in the end. On to the Final.