The third meeting of five this season between the two Poole rivals saw Hamworthy take the slenderest of leads into the second leg. The fiercest of local derbies and a cup semi final is all the ingredients needed for a classic match. Unfortunately this match was anything but, showing very little football talent from either side and proving to be a non-event from start to finish.

Both sides fielded strong sides although Poole were without top scorer Charlie Austin (knee) and Taffy Richardson and Stuart Brown started on the bench. There was a Poole debut for ex AFC Totton striker Floyd Hamodu as he partnered Steve Smith up front.

This was a drab affair lacking any of the passion that was expected and Poole in particular played poorly. Credit to Hamworthy, from the start they got in amongst the Poole players and just would not let them settle and play their good football. Time on the ball for the Dolphins was limited and errors were forced throughout the game. On this occasion Poole did not appear to have the wherewithal to get themselves out of trouble.

The deciding goal came on just twelve minutes. Crowe played Warren Byerley in and after shielding the ball well he turned Lamin Dibba and gave Harvell no chance with a low shot. Usually this would spur Poole into action but tonight the spark was definitely missing. Indeed Hamworthy could, and should, have been two or three up by half time.

On 24 minutes they had a well worked throw in which ended with a shot just missing the post and finding the side netting. Poole's only decent half chance of the first forty five minutes came just before half time when the ball dropped to Andy Culliford on the edge of the box and his volley was snatched up by Peters in the home goal at the second attempt with Kevin Gill ready to pounce. Floyd Hamodu looked pretty sharp and lively in the first half holding the ball up well and flicking on well time and again.

Half time: 1-0

On 52 minutes Stu Brown replaced Steve Smith and nine minutes later Lamin Dibba got on the end of a great cross but his header was superbly saved by Peters. Taffy Richardson and Leigh Phillips came on for Aaron Skelton and Andy Culliford soon after but the pattern of the game really didn't change.

Hamworthy fashioned a couple more decent chances in the second half which left manager Simpkin holding his head. How costly could they prove to be? Poole did rally in the dying minutes and Hubbard had a fine shot tipped away by Peters for a corner. The resulting cross into the box caused all sorts of panic in the Hamworthy box as the ball pin balled about before a final shot was headed off the line.

Hamworthy held on for a deserved win on the night and it's all back to Tatnam in a week's time to see who will progress to meet VT in the final. On this showing VT really wouldn't have much to fear.