FA Trophy success for Dolphins against impressive Willand Rovers

Poole Town FC progressed to the second round of  FA Trophy Tuesday night after a 3-1 home win against an inspired Willand Rovers side.

Tony Lee scored twice from the spot before Will Fletcher bagged his first goal in a black and gold shirt, though it was not plain sailing for the Dorset men.

Despite being a league below the home side, Rovers were the brighter team from kick off and had to be comprehensively kept out by the strong centre back pairing of Will Spetch and captain Jamie Whisken.

The away side’s best chance of the half came on 43 minutes when a well worked corner found the head of youngster Cormac Pike who forced a point blank save from Mark Childs between the Poole sticks.

Despite being second best across the opening half, just moments before the break Tommy Killick’s Dolphins found themselves with a penalty after Lee was brought down by a Rovers centre back.

Lee struck the ball into the top right corner to see the black and gold shirts go in 1-0 at the break.

Whatever Willand boss Russell Jee said to his men at half time seemed to work, as just 30 seconds in their left winger danced through the Poole defence with ease and found Alfie Moulden to fire in at point blank range and level the tie.

The goal kept Rover’s momentum high as they attacked much more than Poole through the final 45, with a series of golden chances missing the Town target.

Poole right back Declan Rose acted as hero late on when he managed to produce a life saving challenge to prevent a Rovers substitute from being one on one with Childs.

With less than 15 minutes to play the Dolphins perhaps received a get out of jail free card when the Rovers defence were at fault for another foul on frontman Lee inside the penalty area. Lee doubled his tally for the game, dispatching the second spot kick.

Will Fletcher made the victory look more comfortable than it in fact was just minutes before the halftime whistle. He fired a free header into the back of the Rovers net following a corner.

Killick’s men proceed to the second round of the Trophy, for which the draw will be published 13:00pm Wednesday, along with the provisional draw for the third round.