The fourth meeting of five this season between Poole and Hamworthy saw them line-up at Tatnam for the first time. With a 1-0 deficit to overcome it was always going to be tricky for the Dolphins to progress.
Changes were made to the side with Gary Funnell playing as left wing back, Luke Whitley as right wing back and Aaron Skelton dropping into the centre of defence with Lamin Dibba. Both Simon Browne and Carl Poore dropped to the bench. Again, Stuart Brown started in midfield and Floyd Hamodu partnered the returning Charlie Austin up front for the first time.

The first quarter of an hour saw Poole attacking Hamworthy from all angles as they sought to get back on level terms as soon as possible. Hamworthy defended well however and weathered the early storm. As often happens, against the run of play, the team under pressure breaks and takes the lead. Hamworthy did this in the 16th minute and it was a super goal. They broke quickly and in numbers and with Poole short at the back Rich McCabe beautifully chipped Harvell from a tight angle to give the Hammers a two goal aggregate lead. Poole needed three.

With the confidence of taking the lead Hamworthy enjoyed a good spell for fifteen minutes. Rather than sitting back they flooded forwards and looked really sharp and positive. The match was a world away from the drab meeting just seven days earlier. On 31 minutes a Poole corner caused problems for the Hamworthy defence and after a couple of blocked headers Stuart Brown was on hand to head home from close range. 1-1 on the night and Poole were back in it. Hopes are a comeback lasted just three minutes when Poole were caught on the break again and a shot from the edge of the box took a cruel deflection leaving Harvell only able to watch the ball roll into the opposite corner.

Poole now needed to score quickly and this they did as they equalised once again on 41 minutes. They got a freekick just outside the Hamworthy penalty area and Gary Funnell, as he's done dozens of times before, stepped up and curled the ball around the wall into the bottom left hand corner. It was a great strike and gave the home side a small chance of winning the tie.

Half time: 2-2

The second half continued in the same fashion but without the glut of goals. Poole pressured where they could, Hamworthy defended superbly and looked dangerous when they broke. On 53 minutes Hubbard found Hamodu but his right foot shot was pushed round the post by Peters in the Hammer's goal. Seven minutes later and it was Hubbard the provider again as his freekick found the head of Austin but the young striker's effort went straight into the arms of the keeper.

Andy Culliford replaced Hamodu on 65 minutes and Steve Smith came on for Hubbard ten minutes later. Still Poole pushed and it looked like a certain goal on 69 minutes when after more concerted pressure the ball dropped to Austin and his volley beat the keeper but whistled just past the post.

From this point Hamworthy looked pretty comfortable and they saw out the game without any more major scares. Over the two legs Hamworthy just about deserved the overall win. No complaints there and good luck to them in the final. It will still be viewed as a missed opportunity for Poole to end the season not in the Wessex Final but news that VT had only drawn at home to New Milton more than made up for it as the League Championship draws ever closer.