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.