The Dolphins set off on their travels around the league with the knowledge that they will have to wait a full month before they returned to the hallowed Tatnam turf. We have no less than 6 away days starting this afternoon in mid-Hants at Alresford. Tom Killick was also off on his travels, but independent of the team, so coach Steve Cuss was in charge for this one.

An old football sage coined the much used phrase that there are no easy games in football, but with no disrespect to our hosts, this could be classed as one, as they had not exactly set the league alight this season and so it seemed to be from the very start.
Poole were all over Alresford for the entire first half and scored with their first attack. Lamin heading home from the last of about three crosses from which any one could have opened the scoring.

The Dolphins controlled the play, pinned Alresford back in their own half and closed the men in black and white down instantly they got so much as a sniff of the ball. Andy Culliford fired two shots over the bar, Stu Brown had another go close and Toomer stopped Austin’s shot and that lot just in the first five minutes.

On 12 minutes, Taffy headed on Hubbard’s long ball from deep and Brown was through one on one with Toomer and slotted the ball under the Alresford keeper for Poole’s second goal. Alresford made their first substitution straight after going 2-0 down, with Kieron Gallagher replacing Phil Curtis, the latter obviously not as match fit as the coach thought, and the home side tried to reorganise, but to no avail as Poole continued to dominate. On 19 minutes Brown was through again one on one with Toomer, but this time the over-worked keeper saved the shot. Seconds later, Captain Browner crossed in from the byeline and Toomer snatched the high ball off the top of Taffy’s head at the far post.

Charlie Austin banged in number three on 34 minutes, running in on Lamin’s long hook forward that cleared the leaky Alresford defence. Austin didn’t get a good contact with the ball but the miss hit still evaded Toomer’s dive and cut inside the far post for the goal. It was a master class by Poole who should have been 6-0 up at least by half time but for that last ball that is still a little suspect. Half-time 3-0

The second half continued in the same vain as Alresford’s half-time team talk failed to make any impression on the game. Gilly went close a couple of times and Austin was denied by Toomer, plus the Referee and his officiating team were calling some pretty strange calls at times too, just to add to the excitement.

However with a eye on Tuesday night’s Semi-final clash in the Dorset Senior Cup with Wimborne and this game looking as good as buried, Steve Cuss made a triple substitution on 54 minutes and cleared the Poole bench and the wheels almost came off the Dolphin bandwagon.
Captain Fantastic, Big Time Charlie and a very surprised Pocket-Rocket were replaced by Steve Smith, Dave Sturgess and Aaron Skelton. Nothing new there, like for like you’d think, but while Poole were rearranging to accommodate the subs and go to three across the back. Alresford’s prolific scorer Stuart Findley nipped onto a cross ball travelling through Poole’s area and chipped Jason to get a goal back for the home side. Captain Browner blew his stack in the dugout at his team-mates lassitude and bellowed across the pitch that he couldn’t leave them alone for a minute, but it did little good, as Poole suddenly looked a very different side and allowed Alresford right into the game for the first time all afternoon. The home side could even have said to have grabbed the upper hand while Poole tried to resettle themselves. Findlay was always the danger and even at 3-1 up the home side looked to be capable of levelling the score unless Poole pulled their finger out. It was a case of the next goal would settle it.

It took a good 5 minutes for Poole to get in an attack and from a resulting corner Stuart Brown had his shot saved by Toomer. On 61 minutes, Lamin had a shot from deep go over and five minutes on Steve Smith supplied a chip into the 6 yard box that Brown managed to head high over Toomer’s reach before it dropped into the goal. Poole had the magic goal to go 4-1 ahead but they weren’t out of trouble yet. They suddenly found themselves down to 10 men with crumpled figure of Dave Sturgess on the far touchline requiring 10 minutes of work from Dick Thomas to get him back onto the pitch. When he did return, he lasted less than a minute and Cuss was forced to remove him and as all the subs were already in the fray, play on with 10 men. Alresford seemed to sense blood and again came at Poole. Findlay had Harvell save three shots, and put two wide and over in the space of five minutes and then the lad set up Gallagher with a rifled drive that thankfully curled wide of the post as Jason just wouldn’t have got to it. Poole’s replies were few. On 77 minutes, Taffy sent a cross in for Smithy to head goalward in the six yard box but the goalhunter connected with the top of his bonce and the ball flew into orbit.

On 88 minutes, Taffy and Stu Brown combined to give Poole the nearest chance, Taffy sending Brown wide to fire from an acute angle which Toomer pushed aside for a corner from which Taffy made a solid connecting only to have his header cannoned off the upright. In the end it looked a comfortable result but the last half hour was anything but comfortable for Poole’s large travelling support as their team's amazing first half display almost disintegrated in front of their eyes.

As this amazing season reaches it climax, we are all on the lookout for the bizarre event that could threaten our unbeaten run or increase the chance or getting caught by the other impressive team in this league. I’ll wager triple substitution was not even on the list!