Football is finally back for Poole after weeks of fixture postponements; ‘The Dolf’ travelled to Bracknell for the fourth meeting between the two sides since the start of the season.
Matt Tubbs made three changes to his starting eleven from the abandoned game against Winchester City on the 2nd December with Lloyd Thomas starting in goal in replace of Max Evans who misses out after sustaining a freak injury in training. The other changes were Frankie Monk and Luke Nippard coming in for Wes Fogden and Billy Lowes.
Bracknell got the game underway in what was a first half of very limited chances. Tony Lee narrowly heads over the bar from a corner in the 12th minute. The first big talking point of the game was when Toby Holmes was bundled over by the goalkeeper, however, the penalty shouts were waved away by the referee after the linesman’s flag was up for offside.
The home side took the lead on the brink of half time as Bracknell’s Liam Tack calmy fired past Lloyd Thomas. Bracknell go into the break at half time with a 1-0 lead.
Poole were forced into a half time substitution with Luke Nippard going off injured, replaced by new signing Kaya Tshaka who joins Poole on a one-month loan from Eastleigh. The visitors started the second half brightly with Frankie Monk cutting inside on his right foot and forcing the Bracknell keeper into a good save on the 47th minute.
The game shifted in Poole’s favour after Bracknell’s Cameron English received a straight red card and was given his marching orders by the referee in the 58th minute for a studs up challenge on Jamie Whisken.
Only two minutes after Bracknell went down to ten men, Poole equalised through Toby Holmes who brilliantly headed home from close range after an excellent delivery from Declan Rose on the 60th minute.
Poole continued to pile on the pressure in search of a winner with Frankie Monk being denied by the Bracknell keeper at close range only five minutes after Toby Holmes gave Poole the lead. Frankie Monk was denied again after being brilliantly found by Tony Lee who played it across the 18-yard box on the 85th minute.
The referee indicated there would be an additional four minutes of added on time, however, it wasn’t until the 94th minute when Frankie Monk despairingly hit the post from close range in what turned out to be the last kick of the game.
A game that frustratingly ended all square after a second half of domination and bundles of chances. Despite only taking one point back to Poole, it was an eventful game for the neutral backed by fine support from both sets of fans.
Next up for Poole is a home fixture against Harrow Borough next Saturday in which Matt Tubbs’ side will be looking to build on this result. Thank you to the travelling supporters who made the trip to Bracknell, great support as per usual.