Report: Bashley 0-4 Poole Town - FA Trophy 1st Qual Rd replay

HAT-TRICK HERO:
Carl Preston

ANOTHER heavy Bashley defeat may have followed the loss of the opening goal, but this time it was as much about Carl Preston’s virtuoso performance for Poole Town as it was the host’s capitulation.

But that and the fact the losing margins are getting smaller will be scant consolation for the Bash faithful.

Shipping six against Hemel and five against Barwell was bad enough, but to lose so comprehensively to lower league opposition and local rivals will really stick in the throat for the New Forset outfit.

Again, this was a solid enough performance from Bash until they conceded, but once the Dolphins had their opener the host’s resistance quickly disintegrated.

That said there was plenty of force behind the gust that blew the house down as Preston’s hat-trick marked a fearsome return to form for the former AFC Bournemouth youngster.

A scrappy opening half an hour had little tempo with Bashley creating two half chances, Matt Finlay’s stretch was not enough to connect with a loose ball at the far post before James Stokoe’s cool control and smart turn was wasted with a tame finish.

In truth, though, Poole’s game plan worked effectively as they controlled the game with a quiet authority before a moment of magic ultimately decided the destiny of this tie.

Preston was alive to nip in behind Josh Casey and get to the byline in the 32^nd minute, working the perfect amount of space to curl the ball across Stuart Moore and find the bottom far corner.

Four minutes later, Preston almost added a second that would have rivalled Gareth Bale’s solo effort for Spurs in Milan two years ago – a mazy run from the half way line left Brad Strickland and Ian Richardson for dead but Moore raced off his line to smother the low effort.

Ragged Bashley soon conceded a second though with pacy Preston at the hub of the home side’s panic, darting down the left and crossing for Gary Middleton to scuff into his own net from the uncomfortable position of facing his own goal.

A slick move just after the hour provided the third with Adam Kelly and Karim Benssaouda zipping the ball around statues with Preston rounding Moore to coolly slot home.

Poole’s persistent predator earned a shot at his hat-trick nine minutes from time by further terrorising Richardson, drawing a handball from the former Totton stopper as he tried in vain to stop a cross from the left – Preston despatched the spot kick to Moore’s left with aplomb.

Ian Oliver and Pearce Farren entered the fray for Bashley and added some endeavour – the two substitutes combined for Farren to clip the frame of the goal late on, but that didn’t mask the problems facing Frank Gray at the moment.

He needs to pick his players up and fast – the goals are flying in at an alarming rate as soon as Bash concede. Poole, however, will be pleased to get through a tie they were so close to losing first time around – this was the type of form everyone expects from Tom Killick’s men and there would have been many Premier Division teams struggling to contain them on this kind of form.

BASHLEY: Moore, Smith, Casey, Strickland, Middleton (Oliver 70), I Richardson, Finlay, Hill, Stokoe (Farren 77), Jenkinson, Knight.

Unused subs: Gazzard, Vokes, Kearn (g/k).

POOLE TOWN: Hutchings, Baines, Spetch, Emmerson, Walker, Dibba (S Richardson 66), Burbidge, Devlin, S Brown (Benssaouda 50), Preston, Kelly (Wilson 79).

Unused subs: O’Donnell, T Brown (g/k). 

Goals: Preston 32, 61, 81(p), Middleton 42(og).

STAR MAN: Carl Preston (Poole Town)

It was always a matter of when rather than if Preston would find his form again as both Poole and their talented wideman have yet to hit top gear this season – until now. It is no coincidence that one of the Dolphins’ best displays this season came on a night when everything went right for their key man. Poole were imperious and unstoppable with one man taking them from stoic to sensational – Carl Preston.

News: Exclusive - Leamington sign goalkeeper Niall Cooper from Redditch United

BRAKES SWITCH:
Niall Cooper

LEAMINGTON have finally secured the signature of goalkeeper Niall Cooper from Redditch United, theonionsack can exclusively reveal tonight.

The will-he-won’t-he debate ended with the former Kettering Town, Romulus and Sutton Coldfield Town stopper, 21, switching to the Southern Premier leaders from their struggling local rivals after watching Tuesday’s FA Trophy replay with Belper Town.

Last week’s speculation was fuelled further when Cooper did not feature for the Reds in Saturday’s 2-1 defeat at Nantwich Town and he revealed today that United boss Simon Redhead had decided against playing him in their Trophy clash.

Cooper told theonionsack: “I spoke to the gaffer and the chairman at Redditch and it is understandable. The manager asked if my head was on it and I said ‘Yes, of course’.

“Leamington wanted to push things forward but the move wasn’t going to go through until Tuesday and the gaffer felt it wasn’t the right thing to do (to play Cooper).

“Simon wanted me to stay and there was nothing pushing me away from Redditch, it was just a good offer from Leamington.”

Cooper admits that he suffered a poor start to pre-season after stepping up from Sutton, but his fine form since then has convinced the Brakes to move for the Northamptonshire based player.

“There were no personal reasons, it’s just Leamington is a lot closer to home for training with my work commitments. As a club, with the position they are in, it is a lot more attractive too.

“I told Simon Redhead during pre-season that if I had the opportunity to step forward then I would and I have done. I would like to thank Redditch for taking the chance on me and sticking by me after a bad pre-season.

“But I see this as a step forward in my career, as Redditch was in the summer, now I am starting to find my feet at this level.”

The move throws into doubt the future of current Brakes custodian Kevin Sawyer, who himself only joined the New Windmill club in the summer, as Cooper explained he expects to feature regularly.

“When I started talking to Paul Holleran I put the question across and said straight away that if I was going to move then I wanted to be playing games rather than watching from the bench.

“It is not down to me and I’m not here just to walk into the side, but my overall aim is to play regularly, get spotted and go higher.

“I wouldn’t move if I did not believe I was going to be first choice and I have signed on the understanding that I would be playing games – whether that is straight away or over the next couple of weeks, we will see.”

Meanwhile, Redditch have replaced Cooper with Tamworth loanee James Wren, 20. 

Report: Poole Town 1-1 Bashley - FA Trophy 1st Qual Rd

LATE GOAL: Benssaouda

KARIM Benssaouda’s last ditch equaliser gave this FA Trophy tie an all too familiar finish as Poole Town rescued a replay with local rivals Bashley.

Bash suffered late heartache in the FA Cup, losing a 90^th minute goal to draw 1-1 with Gosport Borough three weeks ago before controversially losing the replay in the now famous ‘phantom goal’ incident.

And with Poole, who went into the game boasting a 100% home record, trailing their Southern Premier visitors by a single goal, there was an air of inevitability about the Dolphins’ leveller at the death.

Tatnam boss Tom Killick has readily admitted that his side have yet to sparkle this season, but have still ground out the necessary results, especially on home soil.

So despite their average-at-best showing in what was anything but a ding-dong derby, the draw was not surprising or undeserved.

The lower league hosts went into the clash as favourites with a three point lead at the top of the Southern South & West while Bashley sit second from bottom in the Premier Division, higher league status that just eluded Poole in the play-offs at the end of last season.

The Dolphins played with confidence and made the early running, but it was Bash who created the most presentable openings in a goalless first half.

The visitors felt they should have had a penalty on 16 minutes when debutant Andrew Jenkinson’s throughball was handled by Will Spetch, but referee Mark Lawrence infuriated Bash boss Frank Gray by awarding a free kick on the edge of the penalty area for an offence that both sides acknowledged was inside the box.

Charlie Knight was at the hub of Bashley’s attacks, providing the ammunition for James Stokoe to miss a sitter from five yards midway through the first half.

However, Bash were forced to defend in numbers and were often indebted to another new face, goalkeeper Stuart Moore, who caught several testing crosses under severe pressure from the host’s attack.

Benssaouda dispossessed Brad Strickland but shot across the face of goal before Carl Preston hit the post as Poole finish the first 45 with a flourish.

The interval, however, came at the wrong time for the Dolphins who failed to settle at all in the second half and Bashley took full advantage four minutes after the restart.

Giant defender Ian Richardson pressured Marvin Brooks into flicking a header towards his own goal from Josh Casey’s free kick and left ‘keeper Nick Hutchings stranded as the ball looped into the net.

Poole had their own penalty appeal waved away moments later when Gary Middleton appeared to wrestle Michael Walker to the ground, but Bash were in the ascendency and could have wrapped the tie up in the final fifteen minutes.

Firstly, an unmarked Knight headed Tom Hill’s cross over at the far post before Stokoe shot tamely into Hutchings’ arms when one-on-one with four minutes to go.

Those misses set up a grandstand finish with two efforts scrambled off the Bashley line in a goal mouth melee.

But the hosts were not to be denied as marauding full back Keith Emmerson burst from his own half to the edge of the penalty area, seeing his low shot well parried by the unfortunate Moore who could do nothing to stop Benssaouda’s rebound.

Both bosses had differing views on the performance levels at full time, which is unsurprising on current form. 

The draw was a fair result though, and it is back to Bashley Road on Tuesday night with the incentive of a winnable tie at home to Didcot Town for the victors.  

POOLE TOWN: Hutchings, Baines (S Brown 69), Spetch, Emmerson, Walker, S Richardson (Wilson 58), Kelly (Burbidge 77), Devlin, Benssaouda, Preston, Brooks. 

Unused subs: O’Donnell, T Brown (g/k).

Goal: Benssaouda 90. 

BASHLEY: Moore, Smith, Casey, Strickland, Middleton, I Richardson, Finlay (Oliver 80), Hill, Stokoe, Jenkinson, Knight. 

Unused subs: Gazzard, Farren, Vokes, Kearn (g/k).

Goal: Brooks(og) 49.

STAR MAN: Stuart Moore (Bashley)

In what was not the most inspiring of football matches, Moore withstood the pressure piled on by Poole's big hitters on an important afternoon between the sticks for the Reading youngster. Making his debut in the heat of a local derby, in an FA competition, is not easy for a young goalkeeper, but his bravery from the outset saw him command his area well. Despite Benssaouda taking the plaudits late on, Moore's impressive contribution should not be overlooked. 

Comment: Hawks board Havant given Ritchie a fair chance

SACKED: Stuart Ritchie

STUART Ritchie has been sacked ten games into his eventful and ill fated spell as Havant and Waterlooville boss.

A mere 20 weeks after taking over, the man who led AFC Totton to a pair of promotions, a Wembley final and the FA Cup 2nd Round was dismissed by Hawks' vice-chair Jim Fallon, who kicked up the mother of all stinks to take him to Westleigh Park in the first place.

While the ambitious Hampshire outfit didn't set the world alight, they only lost half of their opening fixtures, a series of draws stalling early progress.

But this snap decision looks all the more incredible following a tumultuous six months where more than one club has been unsettled, along with the people within them – all the more galling now it was for nothing.

This sorry story begins back in March when Fallon, who helped to finance Totton's promotion push from the Southern Premier Division, went public in his criticism of the Stags' board before withdrawing his contribution.

He quickly turned up at Havant with Totton accusing their former benefactor of 'tapping up' players and representatives – Ritchie and assistant Shaun New were believed to be among them.

A month later, Ritchie and New had made the switch, leaving their old club managerless going into the Hampshire Senior Cup final against Eastleigh.

A raft of players were expected to follow suit, but the exodus never materialised as Ritchie kept faith with many of the personnel that had struggled in the previous campaign, escaping relegation to the Southern League with the last kick of the ball in 2011-12.

After adding Fallon's investment expectancy was high, within the Hawks' boardroom at least.

But the club suffered a double blow as early as June – Ritchie's right hand man New was suspended and subsequently sacked when he was convicted of theft and fraud from a previous employer.

Meanwhile, the Hawks moved to sign experienced midfielder Tom Davis who went on to accuse Fallon of offering 'under the table cash' in a bitter row that spilled over on Twitter and made headlines in the Non-League Paper, claims the club continue to deny. Davis subsequently signed for league rivals Tonbridge Angels.

After a promising pre-season, the Hawks were solid rather than impressive, drawing more than half of their league fixtures.

The turning point came in the last week when an FA Cup defeat at North Leigh (highlights below from hawksfconline), two divisions below Havant, was followed up with a 3-0 reverse at home to fellow Conference South strugglers Weston-Super-Mare on Tuesday. 

The Seagulls jumped out of the relegation places with a victory that dragged Ritchie's charges into the bottom three as fans chanted 'What a load of rubbish'.

In Ritchie's defence, it wasn't a 0-3 performance against Weston. Martin Slocombe's audacious 30-yard chip from the right wing put Havant on the back foot. Try as they might, the hosts were devoid of confidence and couldn't turn their pressure into an equaliser.

They succumbed to two late goals from substitutes Dean Grubb and Nat Pepperell who added gloss to the scoreline. Weston deserved their points, but Havant were not as far away as the result may have you believe.

After so much success at Testwood Park and Havant's drawn out protracted pursuit of Ritchie, it is shocking they only gave their new man ten matches.

Hawks fans have mixed feelings, some believing that Ritchie just wasn't the same boss without New.

But how many successful teams have been built after ten games? With so many players remaining from a previous regime, could this even be described as Ritchie's side? Not really. 

Enough has happened to drag the name of Havant and Waterlooville FC through the mud over these testing months and this decision only heaps on more dirt.

Whoever they appoint and however successful they may turn out to be, Havant cannot say Stuart Ritchie was given a fair chance. Coupled with the circus that preceded this panic measure how easy will it be to recruit a manager worth his salt?

The only certainty is uncertainty for Hawks fans, a feeling that must be quite familiar by now. As always, it is the fans who suffer. 

Report: Christchurch 3-0 Bournemouth - Wessex Premier

100% RECORD: Graham Kemp

CHRISTCHURCH are made of sterner stuff these days as their latest victory, a 3-0 success over local rivals Bournemouth Poppies, proves.

The same fixture last season saw Graham Kemp’s men lose 2-0 as the Poppies worked hard to stifle Priory’s passing game before preying on their defensive frailties.

It was a different story this year, though, as the Hurn Bridge outfit stood up to be counted in a clash where the Wessex Premier’s only 100% record remained intact.

Russell Cook’s hat-trick secured the points, but it would be harsh on his team mates to single out the former Poole Town frontman – indeed there was much more to Cook’s game than his goals on the day.

Bournemouth were clearly up for their derby day, hoping to upset the host’s perfect start to 2012-13 with ex-Priory striker Martin Warren spurning a decent chance after only 18 seconds, shinning his effort wide after James Wilson’s throughball.

Christchurch quickly upped the ante though, bombarding Poppies’ centre halves Steve Llewelyn and Charlton Clarke with a series of testing crosses from all areas.

Sam Griffin was in the thick of the action, seeing a goalbound shot cannon off Llewelyn and drift agonisingly wide before drawing two point blank saves from stopper Kenny Vaughan.

Scott Joyce wasted the visitors’ only other clear opening of the half as his low daisy cutter rolled wide of the far post after a slick one-two with early substitute Sam Purdy.

Cue more incisive Priory passing with man-of-the-moment Harry Cornick harassing everyone in his wake with pace and purpose – the wonder winger’s mazy run was just about halted by Wilson in the 38^th minute, but he turned provider soon after, taking full advantage of some static defending.

Clarke had two chances to clear a Christchurch corner but only nodded as far as the 17-year-old maestro who crossed for Cook to plant his header inside the near post with ease.

That goal, three minutes before half time, opened the second half floodgates as Bournemouth were battered into submission.

Veteran Mark Smith pelted the crossbar with a 20 yard free kick, Griffin saw another deflected effort creep wide of a gaping net and Cornick skewed wide after some sublime footwork on the edge of the box within ten minutes of the restart.

The Christchurch of old would have rued so many missed chances, but Cook’s second doubled their lead, neatly finishing across Vaughan following Smith’s measured throughball into the right channel.

Cook was in the mood for more and Poppies struggled to handle his movement as their stoic resistance tired as the match went on – another clever run saw Priory’s number nine peel into the left channel and curl his finest effort of the day around Vaughan for number three.

Griffin missed a sitter and Smith’s shot squirmed wide as Christchurch didn’t let up in the closing stages – this was a clear signal of intent.

Poppies, in many ways, looked better than some of their early season showings – they certainly competed for 45 minutes, but the plaudits stay with the Priory. Are Christchurch title contenders this year? It is early days, but as their soft centre gradually gets tougher it becomes harder and harder to rule them out. 

*Post match thoughts from Priory boss Graham Kemp and Poppies assistant Stuart Underwood with the Bournemouth Echo can be found here. 

CHRISTCHURCH: Collins, Thompson, Legg, Crutchley ( c ), Lloyd (Burt 82), Yelland, Smith, Griffin (Cullen 79), Cook (Osborne 72), Burden, Cornick.

Unused subs: Kittle, Hicks (g/k).

Goals: Cook 42, 56, 68.

BOURNEMOUTH: Vaughan, Wilson ( c ), Lockyer, Llewelyn (Saadi 72), Clarke, Corby, Maguire (Purdy 31), Phillipson-Masters, Joyce, Warren (Swann 82), Jackson.

Unused subs: Coverley, Frampton (g/k).

STAR MAN: Russell Cook (Christchurch)

Okay, so he has to take the man-of-the-match award, but only just – so many sparkled for the home side in a real, physical test. Sam Griffin, Harry Cornick and James Burden were unplayable at times, while old fox Mark Smith whipped so many teasing crosses into the box and Jason Collins dominated his penalty area at the other end, but scoring all three goals decides it in favour of Cook after his surprise inclusion at the expense of Ben Osborne.