Poole Town 1-0 Marlow – Match Report
Poole Town secured a crucial 1-0 victory over Marlow at the BlackGold Stadium this afternoon, lifting them to 18th in the Southern League Premier South, with 40 points, just outside the relegation zone on goal difference. For already-relegated Marlow, this was another loss in a tough season that leaves them rooted at the bottom of the table in 22nd on 21 points.
The match itself was a cagey affair, with the first half providing little in terms of chances. However, the best chance of the half fell to Charlie Davis as his free kick effort was denied by a fantastic stop from the Marlow shot-stopper.
Poole dominated possession throughout the opening 45 minutes but struggled to break down Marlow’s resolute defence and despite the home side’s territorial advantage, the teams went into the break with little to show for their efforts.
The second half saw Poole continue their control over the ball, and their first real chance came in the 54th minute when Oakley Hanger tested the Marlow keeper, Harrison Rhone, who had been in fine form throughout the match. As the second half progressed, Marlow began to push forward, leaving gaps at the back for Poole to capitalise on.
The breakthrough came in the 71st minute, and it was a moment of real quality. After some excellent build-up play from Poole Town down the left-hand side, Christos Batzelis, who had been introduced just two minutes earlier in the 69th minute, delivered a delicious cross into the box. It fell to Poole’s number 10, Ezio Touray, who reacted instinctively, producing a stunning acrobatic volley that flew into the roof of the net, sending the home crowd into raptures. The Shed End erupted as Touray celebrated in front of them, the goal providing the spark Poole needed.
Despite Rhone’s best efforts to keep his side in the game, he could do nothing to stop the well-executed strike from Touray. Poole then nearly doubled their lead late on when Tom Hewlett saw his close-range shot crash against the post in the 85th minute. In spite of Marlow’s attempts to find an equaliser as the game entered its final stages, Poole’s defence held strong as they saw out the remaining minutes to secure a vital 3 points.
Selim Saiedd was named Man of the Match after a brilliant display in midfield, providing attacking creativity and composure on the ball. The outstanding support from the 938 in attendance were treated to a sun-soaked afternoon at the BlackGold stadium, and the crowd played their part in backing the team throughout.
The victory marked Poole’s third home win on the bounce, an impressive feat as they continue their battle for survival. With four pivotal games left in the season, they now look ahead to their remaining fixtures full of hope and determination as they push for survival. Their next challenge comes from a trip to Merthyr Town and they will need to be at their best as Merthyr look to close in on the league title.