As expected this was a difficult tie with Consett bringing with them a fair compliment of supporters on the 360 mile journey. Well done! It was also good to see a good turn out of red and white scarves and head gear in another good crowd of 441.

I recall listening to a radio interview recently when a lower league manager once asked the then Ipswich manager, Sir Bobby Robson, the secret of good players, to which Bobby replied "you must always try to get your players playing at the highest level". With no disrespect to some other sides Poole have played but the higher up this competition you venture the better sides you will play, the same with some recent and future league games against higher placed teams. These are alway going to be much tighter affairs than some of the drubbings we have been used to of late, but hopefully they will prepare the younger players for that all important step up to the next level

With Ian Richardson out suspended and Ben Osborne cup tied the team was all change yet again. One thing we lack at the moment is a settled side.
Back in after a few weeks absence came Taffy, Luke Whitley and Aaron Skelton. The team lined up as,

Harvell

Yelland, Whitley, Skelton, Cann

T Smith, Robinson, Taffy, Culliford

Brown, S Smith

Subs Sturgess,C Smith,Funnell,Hill,P Smith.

Consett made use of the early pressure, making space and pushing the ball around. Poole also enjoyed some attacks once they settled, with Culli getting in a couple of crosses that Browner got on the end of, with one weak finish and one good shot that was cleared. Robinson also made it to the by line to pull a cross back but again the ball was cleared.

Harvell narrowed the angle with a Consett break through and did enough to put the striker off,who shot wide. Young Trefor was trying to get going but was upended, which earnt his marker a yellow. From the free kick Taffy headed on and Browner shot just wide. Late on Consett applied the pressure again, with Poole defending deep and Harvell tipped a shot over the bar. The resulting corner was punched clear. In added time Consett took the lead when they won a free kick just outside the box, and from the well taken kick their number 4 Steve Brown placed it high into the net beyond the dive of Harvell.
H/T 0-1

In the second half the game was going from end to end and at first we looked to be defending deep again but as the confidence grew we saw some good interchange of play out on the right between Cann,Culli and Browner. In one move a lovely ball was played into the penalty area and as Taffy bore down on the ball the accompanying defender just got in a leg to clear the ball out.
Around 55 minutes we won a corner, I think Yelland took it but couldnt see clearly from where I was standing. And as the ball was floated in the Consett number 8 got his head to the ball, for it to skid off into the far corner GOAL! 1-1.

Funnell replaced Taffy around the hour mark and Stevo and Browner where putting in a lot of running. Funnel went on a good run which won a corner in a spell that saw Poole enjoy some attacking play. The corner was swung in and the Consett number one punched clear. On 75 mins Pete Smith replaced Stevo and Consett were now also having a spell themselves with Big Jason making a reflection save from close up. Browner had another good run on goal that won a Free Kick, which went just wide.

The game went into extra time with the half hour going from end to end. Browner was replaced in the first half of extra time by Chris Smith, Harvell was called on yet again to narrow an angle late on, Something he is very good at and although both sides worked hard for a winner IMO the game became a stop start affair.
This was a tough test for the lads and an even tougher one now awaits them next Saturday with the long trip North for the replay.
Well Done Lads!