The Dolphins completed a superb August with a seventh win in seven matches as they disposed of Willand Rovers to advance to the 1st Qualifying Round of the FA Cup.

Currently the team is almost picking itself and there was no surprise with the starting eleven, Stuart Brown favored to Steve Smith to partner Charlie Austin up front. Both teams came out in glorious weather and it was great to see both sides line up and go through the shaking of hands etc.

Willand got off to a dream start as they became the first team this season to score against Poole. As early as the their minute a freekick into the Poole area was met by Baily unmarked in acres of space and although his header was blocked he had all the time in the world to hook in the rebound.

The goal seemed to make the Poole side a little edgy and for the first thirty minutes they seemed to eager to try and get the goal back instead of just playing the football that has served them so well this season. Too many passes were hurried and loose and Willand looked the slightly better side for the first thirty minutes. The big Willand number 4 kicked out at Stuart Brown after 10 minutes and brought him down. The referee awarded a yellow card but it could have been worse. As it turns out the number 4 went on to be one of the best players on show, defending well and posing a threat up front.

Taffy Richardson and the Willand 8 Russell Jee had a clash on 18 minutes after what appeared to be a stamp from the Poole man. Both were given yellow cards and perhaps Taffy was lucky to escape a red card.

Gradually though Poole were working hard and coming back into the game. On 28 minutes they got the all important equaliser. Bailey-Pearce did well to win the ball back and after his shot from the edge of the box was charged down Stuart Brown unleashed a typical 'Browner' effort and volleyed the ball into the top right corner from 18 yards - does he ever score tap-ins??!

Now back on level terms Poole looked far more composed and a second goal looked likely. On 41 minutes Bailey-Pearce delivered a great corner and Lamin Dibba got up so well that his close range header bounced down and up over the bar. Within seconds some back chat from Willand's Jee earnt him a second yellow card and he was off leaving his side with ten men for the rest of the match.

Poole immediately took advantage and grabbed the eventual winner just before half time. Good pressure saw Brown play the ball out to Kevin Gill on the right. He looked up and provided a perfect cross to Charlie Austin and, unmarked, he headed home into the corner.

Half time: 2-1.

If the first half had been tense and nervy the second half saw Poole completely in charge and they could, and should, have added more goals to the scoreline. On 51 minutes the Dolphins played the ball out across the back line to Carl Poore. The defender found space opening up and kept going forwards. Outside of the box he hit a fine shot which dipped over the keeper but crashed back off the crossbar and was cleared away.

On 57 minutes Gill raced away and was deliberately tripped by the Willand number 3. The referee awarded Willand the freekick! This was just one of a series of terrible decisions made all day by all of the officials. Read the Willand report here to see what they had to say about the officials. I'll leave opinion on them to the forum!!

On 64 minutes Austin produced a very cheeky header from nothing which looped over the keeper and bounced into the net. Celebrations followed before yet another bizarre decision in which the goal was disallowed. Apparently it was offside which was pathetic as there was at least 2 defenders stood on the goal line.

Two minutes later and a Hubbard freekick was met by Taffy Richardson but his header was tipped over the bar. Five minutes after that and Charlie Austin did superbly well to turn his marker and accelerated down the right wing. He eventually squared the ball, Bailey-Pearce couldn't connect and Stuart Brown hit another great volley which came off the inside of the post and flew across the goal and away to safety.

Steve Smith replaced Charlie Austin on 71 minutes and immediately looked lively. He forced an error from a defender almost immediately and was brought down on edge of box. A clear foul which the referee waved away. At this stage the Willand keeper had handled the ball outside of his area with four consecutive goal kicks. The linesman failed to flag for any of them (he was CLEARLY outside of his box!) but rather spent his time shouting at people to stop telling him the rules!

Trefor Smith and Leigh Phillips replaced Gill and Brown respectively as the game entered the last ten minutes. On 83 minutes the Willand keeper went walkabout for the umpteenth time and this time Bailey-Pearce chipped him but saw his effort headed off the line.

A good win and progress to the 1st Qualifying Round at home to Merthyr Tydfil in two weeks time.