Again it was back to league action for the Dolphins as they travelled to Lymington Town, conquerors of Hamworthy United in midweek.

Salisbury City reserve keeper Grant Porter came in to replace Jason Harvell in goal for Poole. Harvell was on the sub's bench but manager Tom Killick wanted to give Porter some match experience for Poole before the Cowes game on Tuesday when Harvell is away. Carl Poore also was rested (on bench) and Michael White started in the defence. Other than that is was 'business as usual' for the Poole line-up.

The first chance came on 9 minutes when Stuart Brown had a fierce shot turned around the post by the Lymington keeper. The resulting corner curled towards the goal and the keeper again had to be alert to tip the bar onto the bar. As the ball dropped Taffy Richardson got his head to it first but the ball went just wide of the post. The Lymington keeper making saves and shots / headers going just wide of the post would become the 'repeat' feature of the game!

On 20 minutes Austin provided a header from midfield down the right touchline and Kevin Gill raced away. He provided a fine cross into the box and this time it was Stuart Brown who headed just wide. Lymington were making a game of it however and they were quick to close Poole down at every opportunity. Skipper Simon Browne was extremely vocal in the first half giving out some tongue lashings when required to other Poole players. He's not had to do much of that so far this season but was good to see him in charge and the fact that the players took it on the chin and got on with the job showed the team spirit that is within the squad this season.

Poole took the lead on 22 minutes after a good spell of pressure. The ball eventually got played back to Mickey Hubbard in space and from 25 yards out, space is all he needs. He unleashed another cracking shot which was always going to be a goal the instant it left his foot. If Poole supporters expected the floodgates to now open, they were in for a shock just a minute later when they conceded a penalty. A ball into the box was met by keeper Porter, Simon Browne and a Lymington player all at the same time. Porter received a nasty knock to the face and the result was a penalty to Lymington. Browne received a talking to from the referee but no card. Surely if the referee had deemed it a foul then a yellow, or red card should have been produced?? All a bit strange. and somewhat dubious!!
The penalty was tucked away with no problem. 1-1.

Porter managed to last another 10 minutes but the blow had affected his vision and he was replaced by Jason Harvell. It was a shame as Porter had looked pretty solid in the Poole goal. It remains to be seen if he is fit enough for the Cowes game.

The rest of the first half was fairly even but Lymington were beginning to look increasingly dangerous on the break. Somewhat against the run of the play Poole took the lead again right on the stroke of half time. Skipper Simon Browne rose to head home another Poole corner - his first goal for the Club. A somewhat fortuitous lead at the break and some hard talking required by the management team.

Half time: 1-2.

The second half was a much better all round performance from Poole as it turned into one way traffic against the Lymington goal, and in particular their superb keeper. On 59 minutes Poole made the game relatively safe with their third goal. The ball was played neatly through midfield with Hubbard and Richardson involved. Charlie Austin received the ball and brilliantly turned to set up Gill who was in space in the box. Gilly took one touch to control and then drilled the ball into the bottom left corner. A minute later and Stu Brown produced a sublime chip from the edge of the box which the keeper again did brilliantly well to tip the ball away.

Things got much harder for Lymington on 62 minutes when the number 3 (booked in the first half) handled the ball while on the ground and instantly received a second yellow and therefore red card. More great football followed from Poole. Taffy broke the offside trap and raced(?!) away down the right. His first time cross found Austin and his bullet header was tipped acrobatically over the bar. From the resulting corner Austin got up again but his header went just wide of the post.

The Lymington keeper was in flying form (literally) and proceeded to produce great saves a Richardson header and a Bailey-Pearce shot. On 78 minutes Gill produced another quality cross and Austin's header.......... went just wide. Dave Sturgess and Steve Smith replaced Taffy Richardson and Stuart Brown respectively as legs were saved for Tuesday's game. On 83 minutes Poole finished the scoring with another excellent goal. A pin point pass between two defenders sent Bailey-Pearce away on the left and his first time cross was met by Steve Smith who clipped the ball home clinically.
The crossing and service into the front guys for Poole was at it's very best with everyone contributing. Whitley had already delivered a couple of great crosses and on 84 minutes he crossed again to Austin, who's header........ went just wide.

Towards the end the Lymington number 10 hit a screamer of a shot from 25 yards which whistled just over the Poole bar but the final chance fell to Poole - another Whitley cross found Bailey-Pearce perfectly but his header............... well, we know the rest!

Not a great first half but teamwork and spirit saw the team raise their game in the second half to comfortably take home three more vital points.