Poole Town were rewarded with a huge three points in dramatic fashion after Tony Lee scored a last grasp winner in injury time against the resolute Swindon Supermarine, who were reduced to ten men after ex-Dolphins player Jake Andrews received a straight red card.
A game that not many expected to go ahead but thanks to the brilliant and hardworking volunteers, we were finally able to see some football at the BlackGold Stadium on a windy Tuesday night. Before kick-off, there was a minute’s applause for lifelong Dolphins fan Chris Holland who sadly passed away recently.
Matt Tubbs made two changes from the boxing day delight at Dorchester with Wes Fogden and Luke Pardoe coming in for Harvey Slade and Destiny Ojo who both dropped to the bench.
The visitors got us underway on a blustery evening down at Tatnam and to the surprise of many were the better team in the early stages of the first half with multiple half chances troubling the Dolphins, but the Poole Town defence stayed valiant.
A half of end-to-end action with Toby Holmes’ deflected effort pushed onto the post and Wes Fogden firing narrowly wide on the 33rd minute being Poole’s best chances of the first half. Minutes before the break Lloyd Thomas pulled off a brilliant save to prevent an own goal and keep the score on level terms
The teams went into the break at half time goalless with it all to play for in the second half.
The Dolf’ started the second half sharply with Tony Lee having the best chance of the match so far, going one-on-one with Conor Brann in the Supermarine goal but the keeper held strong and denied the inform striker.
The main talking point of the match itself came on the 56th minute when former Poole Town player Jake Andrews saw red for an off the ball incident involving Tony Lee meaning that the visitors were reduced to ten men.
After the red card, Poole began to pile on the pressure with a brilliant effort from long range from Kaya Tshaka forcing the keeper into a good save. With the game still goalless, it forced Matt Tubbs into a double substitution in which Harvey Slade and Destiny Ojo came on for Billy Lowes and Luke Pardoe.
With only ten minutes left on the clock, Poole started to send more players into the box in an attempt to score a deciding goal. A flurry of corners leading to absolute carnage inside the Supermarine box and somehow Poole still couldn’t find a way to convert.
With the clock running down and the referee signalling five additional minutes, the Poole Town fans behind the goal in the Shed End watching on in aspiration that someone would score a last grasp winner.
And just like that, their desire became reality when who else, but top scorer Tony Lee sharply turned the defender and finished it past the helpless keeper to send the fans into delirium.
Poole managed to hold on and come away with the three points in what was a game of many chances but not so many goals. This extends Poole’s unbeaten run to five games in which they have won four and drawn one.
Thank you to the hardworking volunteers who were the sole reason for the game being able to go ahead, these sorts of selfless actions are what makes non-league football so beautiful.