Report: Poole Town 3-1 Beaconsfield SYCOB - FA Trophy Prel Rd replay

INFLUENTIAL: Taffy Richardson

SUBSTITUTES who make sure nothing happens can be as important as those who light the blue touch paper, but Poole Town had the luxury of both on Tuesday night, seeing off Beaconsfield SYCOB in the FA Trophy.

The pendulum swung back in the visitors’ favour when Anthony Page pulled a goal back after Carl Preston and Marvin Brooks had handed the Dolphins a two goal lead.

But savvy Tatnam boss Tom Killick had two aces up his sleeve, managing to stick then twist with a pair of well timed changes.

45-year-old Taffy Richardson entered the fray and duly snuffed out Beaconsfield’s momentum before Karim Lammali came off the bench, scoring a classy goal within three minutes of coming on to seal the tie.

It was no less than Poole deserved – they may have lacked a little punch before the first goal on the stroke of half time, but were the better side throughout other than a hairy ten minutes following Page’s strike.

Preston’s fierce drive cannoned off Craig Carby, looping over the crossbar inside the first five minutes before Brooks fired over from 18 yards after good work from Keith Emmerson.

Michael Walker flashed a header wide from Steve Devlin’s deep free kick while Beaconsfield looked threatening, breaking with pace but not testing Dolphins ‘keeper Nick Hutchings before the 40^th minute when Gavin James’ low shot had to be clawed away.

As the first half appeared to be petering into stalemate, Poole’s pressure finally paid off as Preston's cross from the right  evaded everyone in a busy penalty area but Devlin cut back with the ball bobbling through to Preston who drove into the net from close range.

Devlin turned provider again six minutes after the interval as the Dolphins doubled their lead – the Tatnam terrier’s corner was nodded down by Walker for Brooks to smash back across goal at the far post, finding Jonathan Nydell’s bottom right corner.

The lively Emmerson’s cross-shot flashed wide shortly after, but the visitors found their feet and scored following a goalmouth scramble on 56 minutes – Justin Clayton and Yiadom Yeboah made a nuisance of themselves to help Page bundle home from a corner.

Substitute Nathan Poulton was at the centre of Beaconsfield’s resurgence, setting Ryan Blake away but Will Spetch intervened with a last ditch slide tackle, and Poulton himself went close curling wide from 18 yards.

Cue Poole’s own super-sub as Richardson added bite and drive in midfield, shutting out a side that were starting to look relentless and Dorset’s answer to Stanley Matthews helped put a cap on the result, passing to Brooks to find Lammali with the enigmatic striker finishing deftly with the outside of his right boot.

The win sets up a tasty derby day in the First Qualifying Round with Poole facing local rivals and Southern Premier outfit Bashley. Based on Town’s tenacity at Tatnam so far this season, that home advantage could prove crucial.

*The Bournemouth Echo’s post match reaction with Poole boss Tom Killick can be found here.

POOLE TOWN: Hutchings, Baines, Spetch, Emmerson, Walker, Kelly (O’Donnell 90), Burbidge (Richardson 59), Devlin, S Brown (Lammali 75), Preston, Brooks.

Unused subs: Chudy, T Brown (g/k).

Goals: Preston 44, Brooks 51, Lammali 78.

BEACONSFIELD SYCOB: Nydell, James, Carby, Clayton, Yeboah, Lee, Upward, Page, James, Blake, Walters (Poulton 56).

Unused subs: Saroya, Jack.

Goal: Page 56.

STAR MAN: Taffy Richardson (Poole Town)

The hosts played well on the night with Keith Emmerson’s drive and determination standing out, but when the chips are down Tom Killick always turns to his old mucker. Reliable as ever, Richardson offered the strength and influence to turn the tide back in Poole’s favour. Taffy may not be getting any younger, but it doesn’t look like he needs to be.