A timely break in the recent terrible weather and a well prepared pitch at Alton meant that Poole Town were able to get back into action once again after the washout of Tuesday night's cup tie.

Manager Tom Killick stuck with the same starting eleven as the previous week when Poole beat Romsey Town at Tatnam. There was a welcome step up to the substitutes bench for Will Spetch who has impressed for the reserves this season.

This was a game that Poole controlled pretty much from start to finish. They set their stall out from the beginning as the Dolphins forced three corners in the first couple of minutes. One resulted in a Preston header being tipped away - the first of many fine saves the home keeper would make (how many times does that get reported?!).

He was called on again after just eight minutes when Cook robbed a defender but took too many touches before getting his shot away. Despite that the keeper did exceptionally well to make the save. Even at this early stage it was always a question of when the goal would come and on 16 minutes it duly arrived. Cook was sent clear down the right and when he squared the ball across the face of the goal Stu Brown applied the finish.

Although looking quite lively going forwards (the number 10 for Alton looked a very useful player) the home defence did not possess the same quality and time and again Poole were able to carve through the defence without too much trouble. On 28 minutes a short corner saw Hubbard receive the ball back from Trefor Smith and his cross found the head of Aaron Skelton but the ball flashed just over.

On 40 minutes there was a shock for the visiting supporters when Alton broke and in a rare journey into the Poole half they produced a great cross from the right and a thumping header at the back post brought the game level. It was important for Poole to regain the lead as soon as possible and this they did, crucially before half time, when another short corner saw Preston cross and Stu Brown headed home from close range.

Half time: 1-2

Any thoughts from Alton that they could get back into this game disappeared as the second half got underway. Just two minutes in another Hubbard corner found the head of Skelton and this time there was no mistake as he buried it past the keeper to score his second in as many games. Five minutes later and Stu Brown secured his hat-trick when he raced clear of the defence to slot home> Both Poole strikers were causing the Alton defence all sorts of problems and within minutes Brown raced away again. This time he took the ball around the keeper but his shot was cleared off the line by a recovering defender. It was to be his last involvement as he was replaced by Steve Smith seconds later. Andy Culliford also replaced Skelton.

With Brown gone there was little respite for the home defence. A huge Jones clearance was allowed to bounce and Steve Smith this time raced clear but his shot was saved well by the keeper's legs. Still the chances came. Trefor Smith set up Culliford and his 25 yard effort was tipped acrobatically over the bar for yet another corner.

With the Poole bench urging more goals, the Dolphins continued to surge forwards and on 76 minutes after huge sustained pressure a Preston shot was hammered towards goal but deflected off Steve Smith to make it 5-1. Trefor continued to weave his magic and a typical Trefor run on 78 minutes saw him waltz past a couple of players before bringing another great save out of the keeper.

There was still time to equal this season's best away result and in the dying minutes substitute Sturgess (on for Hubbard) did well to get to the line and his low cross was met by Cook rushing in who stabbed home the goal that his performance deserved. The fact that Sturgess was miles offside when he first received the ball made little difference to the game.

Job done, back to the top and focus switches once again to the Vase at Eastbourne United next week.