Match Report: Poole book spot in Second Qualifying round with 5-0 win

Poole Town 5

Swindon Supermarine 0

F.A. Challenge Cup | First Qualifying Round | 4/09/21 |

Poole Town kicked off their FA Cup campaign with a commanding 5-0 win over Southern League Premier South Rivals Swindon Supermarine.

Tom Killick named an unchanged side to the team that picked up six points last weekend, with Whisken deemed fit after a groin injury.

In the first half neither side truly controlled proceedings, with Supermarine generating nothing more than half-chances or speculative long-range efforts.

McDonagh and Pratt proved themselves nuisances in all areas apart from goal threats, with Swindon largely utilising the former every time they strode forward.

There was little quality behind the quantity of the away side’s chances, as they failed to get a shot on target in the opening 45.

The closest they came was a deflected McDonagh strike, with the ball cannoning around a crowded box before trickling out for a corner.

Dolphins had a few forays forward themselves but couldn’t quite find the final ball, meaning proceedings were mainly edgeless throughout.

Poole had the ball in the back of the net from a throw-in, but a foul was called long before Whisken nodded the ball into a gaping goal.

The hosts would eventually take the lead despite creating fewer chances. After the initial corner was cleared, Dan Bartlett tried his luck on the spin, sending a sublime strike into the roof of the net.

Even with a deflection the ball remained under the bar, far from the reach of Martin Horsell.

The rest of the half was a non-event, but similarly to Poole’s last performances, the Dolphins grew into the game.

Dolphins were handed the chance to seal the game early into the second half, when Supermarine captain Mat Liddiard bundled Lee over in the area.

Liddiard had been shoving Lee all over the pitch without punishment, but took things too far in the eyes of match official James Robinson, who quickly pointed to the spot.

Lee sent Horsell the wrong way to convert the spot-kick with ease, and send Poole on their way into the Second Qualifying round.

Swindon almost responded immediately, but their first shot on target was hacked off the line by Declan Rose.

Luke Burbidge almost secured Dolphins’ place in the next round when he smacked the post on 72 minutes, but in all honesty, Poole had taken the wind out of their opponents’ sails long before that chance.

Dolphins again should have added to their lead with a scramble in the box that saw Jack Dickson and Burbidge both denied from close range.

Buoyed by his first half strike, Bartlett tried his luck from range again – and almost scored another screamer. Horsell leapt high and got a strong hand to deny Bartlett from finding the top left of his goal.

Poole would eventually get their third with the assistance of Supermarine, with Jack Dickson’s direct run ending in a cross. Hall had to intervene to deny Luke Burbidge, who may claim the goal, but the full-back only served to send it past his goalkeeper.

With the result in the bag, Poole made a final sub of Sean Wright to give Jamie Whisken and his groin a well deserved rest.

However, Poole sensed blood, and kept men pouring forward until the last minute.

Tony Lee grabbed his eighth goal of the campaign by beating Horsell to Jack Dickson’s cross, heading home Poole’s fourth.

It didn’t end their either, with another siege on the Swindon goal seeing Bartlett smack the post, before setting up Burbidge to fire home his second.

Despite another minute of additional time to be played, the referee had seen enough and called time early.

Poole are now in Monday’s draw for the Second Qualifying round, and £2,250 better off financially.

Team: Childs, Rose, Spetch, Whisken (Wright 83′), Jackson, Bedford (Dickson 58′), Holmes, Bartlett, Moore (Carmichael 12′), Lee, Burbidge

Subs: Hubbard, Wickham, Fletcher

Goals: Bartlett ’35, Lee (Pen) 51′, 90′, Burbidge 80′ 90+2′

Bookings: Bedford