Match Report: Poole eventually cruise to 4-0 win over Harrow

Harrow Borough 0

Poole Town 4

Southern League Premier South | MD4 | 28/08/21 |

Poole picked up their first away win of the season with a four-goal cushion – a result that seemed far-fetched after the opening period.

The first half barely registered as football, with most of the crowd – and most of the players – straining their necks to the sky throughout. Stop-start, with both sides hoofing the ball as if it was contagious, it was a miracle either side got a shot off – let alone the opener.

Whilst not a beauty, the first goal was befitting of the game, spawning after numerous failed attempts to clear by Harrow.

With three minutes left in the half, Jamie Whisken, still up from the initial corner that started the passage of play, failed to flick the ball on – but the lack of intervention ultimately didn’t matter.

Stalwart Luke Burbidge received the ball anyways, allowing him to scuff a tame shot towards Damien Las. Despite getting a strong glove on the tepid strike, Las somehow contrived to allow the ball to trickle over the line.

The quality the game was crying out for duly came in the second half, after Dolphins turned up the intensity. Shortly after the break, Lee beat Las to a hanging cross, with the loose ball falling temptingly for Luke Burbidge.

Burbidge obliged with a first-time volley, using his weaker left to smack the ball into the top right corner and give Poole a two-goal lead.

Shortly after it could have been a hat-trick for Burbidge, who looked dismayed after his acrobatic effort was chalked off for offside. Now in the ascendancy, Poole kept the game at an arm’s length as the match entered another lull.

In truths, the ten-minute flurry from the Dolphins effectively sealed the game off, but there were still opportunities for Poole to extend their lead.

And after escaping a brief scare where full-back Shaun Preddie smacked the post, the Dolphins would make their quality known via Tony Lee.

It had been a relatively quiet afternoon for Poole’s leading goalscorer, but when he was given acres of space at a set-piece, it was inevitable he would extend his scoring streak.

Dolphins weren’t finished there, with substitute Will Fletcher getting in on the action. Lee cut out a poor pass to bear down on goal, but smartly – and unselfishly – cut the ball back to Fletcher for an easy finish.

After a first half that was painful to watch, the comfortable winning margin was rather pleasant viewing, whilst also serving to alleviate the negative feeling surrounding last Saturday’s result.

Dolphins: Childs (g/k), Rose, Jackson, Spetch, Whisken (c), Moore, Bartlett (Carmichael 66′), Holmes (Wright 66′), Lee, Bedford, Burbidge (Fletcher 80′)

Unused Subs: Wickham, Hubbard

Goals: Burbidge (42′, 48′), Lee (83′), Fletcher (85′)

Bookings: Holmes (43′), Moore (76′)