Totton & Eling's unbeaten home league record finally came to an end as the Champions bounced back to form to maintain their own unbeaten league record away from Tatnam.

Dave Sturgess, Steve Smith and Stuart Brown returned to the starting line-up and Ryan Dovell also made his first full start for the unavailable Pete Smith. Taffy Richardson, not fully fit, dropped to the bench along with Russell Cook.

The early signs were not good for Poole as they picked up where they had left off on Saturday. All across the pitch they were second to everything and they allowed Totton & Eling to dictate the early pace of the game. A good move from Totton on ten minutes blew the right side of the field open and having utilised the space the final shot was very well saved by Nic Jones as he got the ball away for a corner. However, a simple corner to the near post was flicked over everyone by Marwood's head and the home side were in front. This was the fifth successive match that Poole had found themselves losing the game - when was the last time that happened?

Carl Poore committed his first fouled of the night on seventeen minutes and despite it being an innocuous challenge the referee immediately brought out the yellow card. It was a bad decision which would later prove costly for the Poole skipper. It also showed inconsistency from the referee who then allowed just about any challenge to go unpunished from that point on - even failing to talk to other players who made no attempt to go for the ball and 'slid' through players from the opposition.

Finally Poole began to gain some confidence and more importantly some time on the ball. Passes began to string together and when Totton did retain the ball Poole's players now began to close down the space across the field and restrict the play. It led to mistakes from the home side and yet more possession for Poole. So much of Poole's success in recent times has come down to sheer hard work and the ability to dictate the tempo of the game. They were now getting back to that again.

On 24 minutes Poore crossed from the right and Stu Brown glanced a header just wide. A few minutes later and Hubbard slid a brilliant ball through the defence for Sturgess to latch on to but his shot was well blocked. More good play saw Preston cut in from the left and he went on a superb run into the box before his shot was also blocked - great last ditch defending which was a feature of the Totton performance.

On 36 minutes Carl Preston produced some more good work on the left and when his shot was blocked Stuart Brown was on hand to turn and fire under the keeper to bring the match level. It was no more than Poole's hard work deserved and they then dominated the last ten minutes of the half before leaving the field to good applause.

Half time: 1-1.

It was vital that Poole maintain the upper hand in the second half and this they did from the whistle. On 52 minutes a Hubbard corner was headed over by Ross Lloyd. Poole tails were up now and they came swarming forward looking to take the lead. A great move on 54 minutes saw Poole take a quick freekick, the ball eventually being crossed to the back post where Brown applied the finish only to be ruled offside.

The disappointment for Poole supporters lasted just seconds as a big clearance from the back saw Steve Smith race away, holding off the attentions of a defender before allowing the ball to bounce and then firing a great volley over the keeper to give Poole the lead.

The Totton keeper then stole the show as he produced incredible saves one after the other. On 58 minutes a Hubbard freekick dropped in the box and Ross Lloyd thumped a thunderous volley which the keeper managed to parry away. A minute later and Brown found Trefor Smith racing into the box and the winger's shot was also brilliantly stopped by the keeper. On 68 minutes Poole unlocked the home defence again and this time the keeper race doff his line and slid through Stuart Brown outside of the box. Had he made contact he would have been sent off but Brown stayed on his feet and provided a cross to the far post. With an empty goal at his mercy Carl Preston headed towards the net only to see the keeper come flying from nowhere to palm the header away. Other shots came in, most noticeably Stuart Brown with another volley which the keeper somehow kept out. It was a fine period for Poole and the home keeper.

On 77 minutes Andy Culliford replaced Sturgess who had picked up a knock and a few minutes later Russell Cook replaced the hard working Stu Brown. Some of the Totton tackling now became a bit agricultural especially against Carl Preston who simply had the beating of the Totton numbers 2 and 6.

Poole conceded a freekick deep into injury time and Carl Poore kicked the ball away in frustration. There was only going to be one outcome and he duly received his second yellow and therefore a red card. However, Poole killed the game off to secure three vitally important points on the road.

Not the most attractive football from Poole and certainly not back to 'their best' but this was a performance of passion and commitment of which manager Tom Killick must have been proud.