Report: Bashley 2-1 Frome Town - Southern League Premier

BASHLEY: Opened with home win

BASHLEY battled their way to a first victory of the Frank Gray era, and while they may have been fortunate to snare all three points against Frome Town, Bash’s tenacity could not be questioned.

James Stokoe’s well taken double was enough for Gray’s charges to taste victory in a tense encounter despite Lewis Powell’s penalty putting the cat amongst the pigeons late on.

There were plenty of chances and a fair amount of needle throughout a gripping game, but Stokoe’s sharp shooting made all the difference, while his Frome counterpart Powell was wasteful in front of goal.

The visitors started well – Tom Evans’ long throws caused chaos in the Bashley backline with Powell flashing a header wide before Dean Flockton’s effort was questionably ruled out for offside.

Gray criticised his side’s defending after conceding three goals to headers at Cambridge City, and Bashley were vulnerable to the aerial threat again with new signing Ian Richardson patching up a disjointed backline – the former Totton centre half held it together though, enabling the home side to find some rhythm.

Stokoe might have been awarded a penalty a minute before his first goal, but even a free shot from 12 yards wouldn’t have been as simple to convert as Bashley’s opener – Knight whipped in a free kick from the right which Stokoe nodded into an empty net after ‘keeper Darren Chitty came out and got nowhere near the ball.

Bashley were playing some neat football, but Frome spurned more chances to score after the break – Powell’s shot was easily gathered by Kearn before Dave Evans planted a simple header wide, and they were soon made to pay as Stokoe grabbed a second, latching onto Brad Strickland’s hopeful punt forward and finishing coolly past the onrushing Chitty.

Powell again headed into the grateful arms of Kearn from six yards moments later, highlighting the difference between two well matched sides, but an error from the Bashley goalkeeper handed Town a lifeline.

Kearn came for a ball he was never going to reach with Gary Middleton nudging Matt Smith as he tried to attack the ball – Smith needed no invitation to go down and Powell converted to set up a grandstand finish. 

Frome nearly found an equaliser deep into stoppage time, but substitute Tom Colledge flashed his effort just wide with Kearn rooted to the spot.

The match exposed weaknesses for both sides that will be picked apart by stronger opposition in the Southern Premier, but the battling qualities possessed by both teams will see them take points from anyone who has an off day.

Bashley still need more quality, but Gray certainly got the best out of what he has in this match, and if they can capture more signings like Richardson, a better season may be in the offing for the men in yellow.

BASHLEY: Kearn, J Smith, Oliver, Strickland, Middleton, Richardson, Casey, Hill, Stokoe, Speechley-Price, Knight.

Unused subs: Gazzard, Green, Vokes, Lompato-Pires, Prodomo (g/k).

GOALS: Stokoe 28, 66.

FROME TOWN: Chitty, Thompson (Colledge 71) Evans (Ledgister 36), Flockton, Bennett, Lapham, M Smith, Evans, Powell, Lyons (Auckland 57), Wood.

Unused subs: Bowman, Herbert.

GOAL: Powell 83(p).

STAR MAN: Ian Richardson (Bashley)

Two men in Bashley colours found themselves in the right place at the right time – Stokoe plundered two goals while Richardson diligently mopped up after some messy defending. Richardson edges it on his debut for an all-round performance that not only stopped Frome in their tracks, but steadily built confidence throughout a frail looking team.

Report: Poole Tn 2-0 Clevedon Tn - Southern League S&W

AT THE DOUBLE:
Marvin Brooks

MARVIN Brooks’ double spared Poole Town’s blushes on the opening day of the season as the off colour Dolphins overcame Clevedon Town.

With Tom Killick’s men struggling to find rhythm and arguing amongst themselves during the first half, Brooks popped up to kickstart their campaign with a bullet header from Steve Devlin’s corner ten minutes before the break.

Poole’s midfield maestro added the second on the hour from another set piece – Devlin’s flagkick found Lamin Dibba, whose header was blocked, and Brooks bombed onto the rebound, smashing the ball home on the half volley from 20 yards.

Clevedon will rue their defensive lapses on a day where their effort and endeavour ruffled a few feathers at Tatnam Road, and while the Dolphins backline remained solid, the lively visiting front pair of Adam Mahdi and Joe Flurry caused plenty of concern.

Mahdi’s fizzing drive which drifted wide was the best opening in the first half an hour and as the pressure grew for the home side, Sam Clarke had to be on his toes to cover his centre halves with vital challenges more than once.

Brooks’ goal settled a few nerves and Devlin almost added a second before half time, rattling the crossbar with a fierce free kick that his jinking run had won. Devlin again went close right on the whistle, bursting down the left and seeing his shot skim across the face of goal.

Despite leading at the interval, a few harsh words were dished out in the home dressing room and Poole were livelier after the break, but still lived dangerously at the back.

The second goal calmed the contest down, but Clevedon had their chances – the goal seemed to open up for Adi Adams, but Will Spetch blocked his shot, while substitute Reeko Best should have headed Alex Russell’s dinked cross home to pull one back, but the ball bobbled wide.

In the end, Poole showed enough quality without hitting the heights of last season – they will need to play better to justify their title favourites tag, but the sign of a good side is one that wins without the wizardry.

*Dolphins boss Tom Killick's post match thoughts with the Bournemouth Echo can be found here.

POOLE TOWN: Hutchings, Clarke, Spetch, Dibba, M Walker, Howes (Richardson 72), Burbidge, Devlin, Chudy (Price 58), Preston, Brooks (Sturgess 78).

Unused subs: O’Donnell, Beasley.

GOALS: Brooks 35, 60.

CLEVEDON TOWN: Matthews, King, Robbins, Fisher (Ricketts 58), J Walker, Murray, Russell, Adams, Flurry (Moss 73), Mahdi (Best 58), McKenna.

Unused subs: Hussain, Bell.

STAR MAN: Marvin Brooks (Poole Town)

Close call between Brooks and Devlin, but the goals edge it for the youngster – none of the Dolphins played as well as they are capable of on the day, but the midfield duo ran themselves into the ground for the cause and played a vital role in breaking the play up when Clevedon started well. 

News: Nathan Blissett signs for Kidderminster Harriers

BLISSETT: Harriers bound

STRIKER Nathan Blissett has signed for Kidderminster Harriers on a one year contract from Evostik Northern Premier League club Romulus.

The 23-year-old shone with 13 goals in his first season at Coles Lane and has been snapped up by the full time Harriers after impressing boss Steve Burr in a week long trial. 


Blissett spoke to the Romulus website about the transfer this weekend following his Harriers debut in a 3-2 defeat to Mansfield Town. The full interview and details of the transfer can be found here. 

News: Romulus sign model Keenen Meakin-Richards

PRO MODEL TO MODEL PRO:
Keenan Meakin-Richards

EVOSTIK Northern Premier League club Romulus hope to have signed a model professional ahead of the big kick-off this week, by signing a professional model.

The Roms have snapped up central midfielder Keenen Meakin-Richards in the build-up to their opening game of the season against Leek Town.

Meakin-Richards talks exclusively to theonionsack's author Andy Mitchell for the Romulus website about his modelling, football coaching with youngsters and the Roms' prospects for the season here. 

News: Winton Cricket Club deducted 50 league points

PENALISED:
Winton CC

WINTON Cricket Club have been deducted a mammoth 50 league points by the Dorset Cricket Board, plunging the Dorset Premier League newcomers towards near certain relegation. 



The sanction was passed because the club do not have two youth sides playing competitive cricket in line with the board's interpretation of it's rules.

It leaves the newly promoted club stranded at the bottom of the table. Without the deduction their fate would be in their own hands with the bottom club going down and the second bottom side facing a play-off to stay up. 

Winton have appealed the decision, arguing that they have youth teams in place and that the rules do not stipulate that they have to play competitively.

The full story with views from Winton CC's Brian Dobson and DCB's John Ridout for the Bournemouth Echo can be found here.

Report: Bournemouth FC 0-1 Pewsey Vale - FA Cup Extra Prel

LABOURED DISPLAY:
Poppies' Scott Joyce

BOURNEMOUTH Poppies crashed out of the FA Cup at the Extra Preliminary Round stage against Wessex One side Pewsey Vale after a dour clash at Victoria Park.

Ken Vaughan's men lost out to Tom Ritchie's second half strike as Pewsey created one of the shocks of the round.

The match report for the Bournemouth Echo along with full reaction from Vaughan can be found here. 

Report: Verwood Tn 1-2 Horndean - Wessex Premier

CHANCE: Tom Chapman thumps a header over

Excitement, pride, and an air of reserved confidence could be felt around Potterne Park ahead of Verwood Town’s first Wessex Premier home match, but the bubble was more trampled than burst as savvy Horndean left with three deserved points.

The visitors hassled and harried in every position, with Verwood, now playing at the highest level in their history, looking nervy and unable to comprehend the lack of time and space afforded them in the opening half.

After the break at 2-0 down, the hosts improved and looked more composed with the ball, though still more than a little suspect without it – Martin Edwards’ goal renewed the hope, but his glaring miss late on summed up a frustrating night.

The opening was frenetic and scrappy, but Horndean gradually worked their way into the match with man-mountain Jamal Fenelon drawing the Verwood backline all over the place, creating room for others to work in.

Town’s cause was not helped by the early withdrawal of left back Luke Homer through injury, and his replacement Charlie Elysee had a tough evening alongside centre half Ben Kelly.

A free kick from the right handed Horndean the lead on 19 minutes, defender Dan Hayes thumping a header back across goal from Tommy Woodward’s free kick.

Chances continued to come and it was no surprise when the visitors doubled their lead four minutes before the break – Elysee and Kelly were caught square as Fenelon darted through the offside trap and curled the ball beyond Chris Lynch from close range.

Tom Chapman thumped a good chance to make it three over the crossbar for Horndean after the interval, while an improving Verwood should have scored when Jack Satterley volleyed over when well placed.

Hope came Verwood’s way just before the hour mark as Hayes was denied Horndean’s third by Dean Evans’ goal line clearance. At the other end, Town’s full back caught Simon Stone in possession three minutes later and set up Edwards to pull one back. Game on.

Evans had a weak shot saved by Derek Harding, but the visitors still carved out openings too easily, Hayes, Gavin Spurway and Fenelon all going close.

As the match drew to a close, Evans was involved again in what should have proved to be the leveller, crossing for Edwards at the far post, but his stooping header bounced wide with the goal at his mercy and Verwood were left to wonder what might have been.

The quality is clearly there for Town to compete in the Wessex League’s top flight, but they will need learn fast and box clever against experienced and rugged sides to make an impact this season.

VERWOOD TOWN: Lynch, Evans, Homer (Elysee 14), Delaney, Kelly, Gajic, Dyer, Clark (Webb 62), Edwards, Satterley, Hill.

Unused subs: O’Sullivan, Steer, Anderton.

GOAL: Edwards 58.

HORNDEAN: Harding, Errington, Stone, Hayes, Chapman, Lofters-Desporte (Sebuliba 71), Fennemore (Warren 78), Spurway, Woodward, Austin, J Fenelon (Bell 86).

Unused subs: Perkin, C Fenelon.

GOALS: Hayes 19, J Fenelon 41.

STAR MAN: Tom Chapman (Horndean)

A few Horndean players in contention after a stoic away performance – Fenelon bullied his way through, Woodward was lively around him, and Hayes’ marauding runs from centre half were levelled out with a mature positional sense. But when it got a little bit nervy at 2-1, Chapman barked out the orders and calmed everything down – lead his team to victory.

Report: Bournemouth FC 0-3 Lymington Tn - Wessex Premier

DISAPPOINTED:
Scott Joyce

THE new football season is a time for optimism, the level playing field at the outset giving everyone the belief this could be their year.

But as two new look sides kicked off at Victoria Park it was the visitors Lymington Town who left with that belief firmly intact thanks to Luke Watts’ treble after both sides took their time to settle.

Both Poppies boss Ken Vaughan and his Lymington counterpart Andy Leader faced the prospect of bringing in several faces over the summer, and it showed during a first half that lacked cohesion, especially in the attacking third.

Bournemouth had their chances – Max Cream threatened to light the blue touch paper after 11 minutes, cutting inside and pelting the post with a fizzing low drive while Jack Swann should have done better just before the break, smashing his finish over the bar after some clever movement saw him peel away at the far post.

As the match went on the warm weather as well as a difficult pitch drained two sides that lacked impetus to begin with, and the first goal became increasingly important.

Poppies were left to rue their profligacy early in the second half as Lymington, showing more courage and conviction in possession took their chance when it came.

Midfield lynchpin Martin Harris caught the Poppies back four flat and latched onto a ball over the top, cutting the ball back for Watts to finish across Max Frampton.

The host’s heads dropped and Bournemouth looked ragged, static defending almost handing Town a second shortly after, but Alex Blake’s shot was saved one-on-one by Frampton after Watts’ throughball.

Poppies huffed and puffed, but were laboured in their efforts to equalise – a corner flashed across the face of goal and the returning Scott Joyce drew a full stretch save from George Passingham with ten minutes to go, but in reality, Joyce should have found the bottom corner.

CLOSE CALL: Bournemouth Poppies were left to rue missed chances against Lymington

Lymington’s workmanlike approach was rewarded late on as Jack Iggleston crossed from the right for Watts to bundle home at the far post, and Watts’ third soon came, dashing in behind a static backline to lift the ball over Frampton from Harris’ flick on.

It’s hard to know what would have been harder for Ken Vaughan to watch – the disintegration of his side, or larger than life Leader swinging his shirt round his head after the third, but the message afterwards will be much clearer for Poppies – must do better.

BOURNEMOUTH: Frampton, Wilson, Jackson, Llewelyn, Crutcher, Leadebetter, Cream (Maguire 73), Phillipson-Masters (Molyneaux 70), Joyce, Swann (Saadi 54), Lockyer.

Unused subs: Clarke, Vaughan (g/k)

LYMINGTON TOWN: Passingham, Horner, Randall, Baker, Ansell, Pancaldi, Harris, Wiltshire (Evans-Hunt 89), Iggleston, Watts (Kapinga 90+2), Blake (Butler 83).

Unused subs: Fairhurst, Williamson.

GOALS: Watts 54, 85, 90+1.

STAR MAN: Luke Watts (Lymington Town)

Who else? Not only for the goals, but for making the ball stick up front in a first half when the visitors were under pressure. His well taken first gave Town a platform to play with confidence – the catalyst for a solid away performance. 

Report: Poole Tn 1-1 Salisbury City - Pre-season friendly

TRIALIST: Steve Brown

POOLE Town showed good character to fight back from a torrent of first half pressure, dominating the second half to draw 1-1 with Salisbury City of the Conference South.

City ran Tom Killick’s men ragged but only had Jamie White’s penalty to show for their dominance at the break, and the Dolphins took advantage after the interval with a more vibrant display following Lamin Dibba’s equaliser but couldn’t find a way to beat their higher ranked visitors.

City took a deserved lead on 16 minutes – as Dan Fitchett’s low throughball came into the area, Theo Lewis went down as he ran across Michael Walker with new signing White coolly slotting home the resultant spot kick to Nick Hutchings’ left.

The hosts lost their way, conceding possession with rushed passes while poor positioning left the back four looking disjointed. 

Cameron Hough’s shot fly high and wide after a slick build up and White wasted a glorious chance after bursting in one on one, but prodded his shot wide with the goal at his mercy.

Poole finally settled as the half went on but created little, and Chris McPhee joined the list of Salisbury players who should have doubled their lead on the stroke of half time, bursting through to catch Dibba in possession, but skewing his finish high and wide under pressure from Sam Clarke.

The Dolphins made several changes at the break, while City only made two, but it was Poole who hit the ground running, equalising within two minutes. Substitute ‘keeper Mark Scott parried Walker's powerful far post header, but Dibba was on hand to net the rebound.

Influential midfielder Steve Devlin was at the hub of Poole’s resurgence, pinging balls from left to right, creating space and stretching the Salisbury backline.

Devlin himself had a shot well clawed away by Scott on 69 minutes while Lewis and Stuart Sinclair might have done better at the other end with half chances.

As the action subsided thanks to tired legs, Spetch had to aware to cut off the supply to Garyn Breen late on, ensuring that Poole got the creditable draw that their second half composure and pressure deserved.

The only new face on the night for the Dolphins was Alton Town forward Steve Brown, who has also starred in defence for the Wessex League side. 

Boss Tom Killick said that Brown had impressed, but taking another look at him may prove difficult with Alton's season kicking off this weekend. Killick added that he is happy with his current crop of strikers but didn't rule out the prospect of new faces.

TEAM NEWS

POOLE TOWN: Hutchings, Clarke (O’Donnell 46), Spetch, Dibba, Walker (Brooks 46), Howes (Tickle 62), Burbidge (Beesley 62), Richardson (Devlin 46), Lamalli (Brown 46), Preston (Chudy 46), Sturgess.

Goal: Dibba 47.

SALISBURY CITY: Puddy (Scott 46), Udoji, Hart (Bowman 46), McPhee, Dutton, Matthews (Baggridge 48), Hough (Clark 55), Sinclair, White (Breen 68), Fitchett (Bowerman 55), Lewis.

Goal: White 16(p).