After last week's FA Vase ties were wiped out by the weather, I was hoping to find one of the Southern ties on today. Working my way around blogs, forums and league websites my options were gradually whittled down to two matches at Poole or Lancing. My preference was to head to Lancing as a new ground but by the time I went to get the train there was no news on their fixture so I decided to head to Poole Town for a revisit as their forum had confirmed the match was on. I sat at Southampton waiting for my connecting train and saw the Lancing train leave - moments later their Twitter feed confirmed that match was on too - just too late for a change of plan.
Despite this I was looking forward to seeing the match at Poole as both teams have been in good form in their respective leagues. I arrived at the station and wandered round to the ground via the local Co-op for some lunch. There were some players chatting to supporters as I arrived and I received a friendly welcome from the admissions hut. After ascertaining that I was a neutral, they seemed surprised that someone would travel down from Wiltshire to see their match but hoped that my journey was worthwhile.
SInce my last visit to Poole for a pre-season match about five years ago, they have adapted the ground to add in a turnstile, some seating and a portable merchandise stall. There was also some plastic sheeting around the boards to stop people getting a free view of the match. Despite these changes, the ground has failed the ground grading requirements which has meant that Poole have missed out on promotion twice after winning the Wessex League. Their last attempt to get planning permission for a new ground failed so I wish them all the best with the current application at a new location.
There was quite a buzz of excitement around the ground as kick off approached. There was even a local film crew recording interviews with the locals ahead of the match. I decided to start watching the game from behind the goal and despite the Poole crowd decamping to the other end after the teams came out, I stood my ground.
At first I thought this was a mistake as the ball rarely came out of the Wantage half as Poole put the pressure on their visitors. Wantage managed one shot from a breakaway attack but it only seemed like a matter of time until Poole would score. It looked like they had done in the 10th minute from a high ball into the area that was headed in but the referee gave a foul for the challenge on the keeper.
In the 13th minute there was a goal but not to the home team. Wantage managed to break out of their area after clearing a Poole free kick. The home team had committed to many players forward and when the ball was passed across the area it found an unmarked Wantage player to chip the ball over the keeper and in.
Poole's response was almost instant. After winning a corner in the 15th minute they played the ball deep into the area. A Poole player rose up and headed the ball across the goal and between the defender on the post and the keeper. They then took a 2.1 lead in the 19th minute after winning a freekick outside the area. The shot was fired low and seemed to go under the jumping wall and then past the keeper's dive at the near post.
After this flurry of goals the game settled down. Poole had a header over the bar and Wantage did the same from a shot. A huge flock of starlings appeared near the ground and put on a spectacular show as the mass of birds gyrated around the sky.
Just before half time Wantage won a free kick on the edge of the area. I had moved to the touchline and from my angle it appeared that the Poole keeper had left himself too much to do to get across the goal if the Wantage player hit it towards the left post. The Wantage player must have picked up on this as well as he hit a superb shot into the top left corner of the net. A superb equaliser that left the home fans stunned again.
There was still enough injury time for both teams to have an opportunity to take a half time lead. Wantage had their keeper to thank for making a great save with his feet while one of his teammates went on a great run only to lose control of the ball in the final third when a quick pass could have set up a shot.
Both teams looked capable of scoring and Wantage almost picked up a third goal with a powerful shot in the 47th minute that had the Poole keeper at full stretch to tip round the post. They came even closer in the 53rd minute with a one on one break. The ball was taken around the keeper but the shot was pulled to the left of the post from the angle. Poole replied a minute later, working the ball cleverly across the area from a corner but hitting the shot over.
It certainly felt like the game could go either way and Poole decided to make some changes, adding experienced former Bournemouth man Marcus Browning to their line up. He looked composed on the ball and made some good passes to help his team keep possession. In the 74th minute this possession led to a goal. Poole's no 10 went through the defence and took a shot that the Wantage keeper was able to parry out but only as far as the Poole 9 who got to the ball ahead of the covering defence and it it in off the bottom of the crossbar.
Two minutes after this chance Wantage should have equalised. A great high ball was played into the area and found a Wantage player who had pulled away from his marker but he directed his point blank header straight at the Poole keeper. Poole were fortunate to keep 11 players on the pitch after a late sliding tackle in the 90th minute but it looked like they would hold on for the win.
Wantage were determined to take the game into extra time and brought on a sub for the last minutes of injury time. There was a cry of "Too late!" from a Poole supporter but the sub earned his team a corner and then put a shot narrowly over the bar. Poole played possession football and had a couple of shots to try and nick a goal to clinch the game. They were unsuccessful but managed to hold on to win a home tie against St Ives Town in the next round. An exciting cup game and one I really enjoyed watching.
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