The Champions came up against relegated and much fancied City at Tatnam. Poole had not won at home against City for nearly eight years. City, however, had been thumped 4-1 at home by Bemerton Heath Harlequins in the FA Cup just three days before so it was unclear just good they would be. Lamin Dibba returned for Poole whilst skipper Simon Browne was rested. Main news of the day however was the signing of Carl Preston from Weymouth in time for this game. Preston had been superb for Poole last season when on loan from AFC Bournemouth and it was great to have him line up on the left side once again.

There were a few similarities to Saturday's cup game. Winchester started brightly and yet it was Poole who got to half time 2-0 ahead. Again Poole allowed the lead to be cut before going on to win the game in the end. On 3 minutes Hubbard produced a precise freekick which Austin headed only to see the keeper tip it over the bar. A poor header back towards the Winchester keeper from a visiting defender allowed Russell Cook to nip in on nine minutes and he clipped the ball over the keeper to give Poole the lead.

Back came Winchester however and for a while they looked the better side. They looked lively up front and produced some neat football but never really produced an end product. On 15 minutes a good cross from the right was headed goalwards and Carl Poore was well positioned on the line to head away. A couple more chances were cleared from the Poole goal as the Dolphins weathered some good Winchester pressure.

On the half hour mark a Hubbard corner was headed just wide by Dibba but a minute later Preston produced a nice run on the left and his shot / cross dipped over the keeper and came back off the far post before Russell Cook poked it home to score his second of the night. With a couple of goals behind him now he is clearly gaining in confidence and he is certainly taking the opportunity that Killick has given him in the starting line-up. Will Stuart Brown regain his place now or is the promising Cook / Austin partnership to continue? And not to mention goal machine Steve Smith as well. A tough but nice problem to have.

Poole continued to press and on 40 minutes Austin sped down the wing cut in and produced another great cross which found Cook at the far side of the box and his header came back off the bar denying him a first half hat trick.

Half time: 2-0.

For the second match running Poole looked lethargic at the start of the second half. On 52 minutes Winchester pulled one back - a weird goal that saw the ball roll at the slowest pace possible past everyone including the keeper into the net. A shot, own goal..........?? Either way Winchester were back in the game and although they never really threatened the Poole goal again there was a slight feeling of unease within Poole supporters that the lead could disappear at any time.

Dave Sturgess came on for Trefor Smith on 58 minutes and this seemed to turn the game back towards Poole. Sturgess looked fired up right from the off and he was soon diving into tackles and winning the ball Taffy-like in the midifield.

On 62 minutes a Cook run and shot saw the ball pushed away for a corner and four minutes later Dibba headed home another Hubbard freekick only to see the goal disallowed for a foul. Dibba picked up a yellow card for his protests.
The match was ended as a contest on 84 minutes with yet another piece of magic from Charlie Austin. The ball was played into him around the penalty spot and with his back to goal he twisted one way, then turned the other, made just enough space and then placed the ball beyond the keeper - a great goal.

Lloyd and Steve Smith came on in the dying minutes to replace Dibba and Austin and Poole then saw out the game to maintain their 100% start to the season.