Match Report: Another drab Dorset derby ends in narrow Poole win

Poole Town 1

Dorchester Town 0

Southern League Premier South | MD5 | 30/08/21 |

Bank Holiday Monday entertainment was in short supply at the Black Gold Stadium, as local rivals Poole and Dorchester played out a quiet match.

Killick named an unchanged side to the one victorious against Harrow, but was forced into an early change.

Captain Jamie Whisken was forced off after falling awkwardly, being replaced by midfielder Sean Wright.

Just like Poole’s fixture at Harrow two days ago, the opening 40 minutes passed by without much incident. Dolphins again conceded a few corners that led to nothing, with Dorch producing the first shot on target after 36 minutes, thanks to a Tom Soares free-kick.

A goal seemed unlikely from either side, with the only opportunities stemming from set-pieces. 

That’s where the opener would originate. From a free-kick, Will Spetch sent a looping header to the back post, allowing Sean Wright to rush in and nod home for his first of the campaign.

With only one goal in the previous three incarnations of this fixture, it seemed inevitable this would be another game decided by the odd goal – and that eventually proved true, after a rather pedestrian second half.

Poole had a minor let off shortly after the break, with Oakley Hanger initially miskicking. His second effort forced Childs into a save from close range, before Billy Lowes fired high and wide from the edge of the area.

The best chance of the second period fell to man in-form Tony Lee. It seemed almost inevitable that the striker would bury his chance one-on-one, but instead opened his body too wide and curled his effort beyond the far post.

Neither keeper had much to do, and in all truths, the game was played at a slow pace throughout.

Dorchester never truly looked like threatening – rarely playing with any real intensity, especially during the final stages.

All Dolphins had to do was hold their nerve and see out the game, eking out a precious three points in the process.

Credit must be awarded to Killick’s subs in the second half, with the introduction of Fletcher keeping pressure on the Dorch backline.

Poole rise up to 6th in the embryonic league table, and will stay there for at least another week, thanks to the whole league being on cup duty next weekend.

Dolphins: Childs (g/k), Rose, Jackson, Spetch, Whisken (Wright 18′), Moore, Bartlett (72′ Carmichael), Bedford, Burbidge (78′ Fletcher), Holmes, Lee

Unused: Hubbard, Wickham

Goal: Wright 43′

Bookings: Bedford, Moore