Poole Town were beaten at the death by Gloucester City in a 1-0 defeat at The BlackGold Stadium.

New signing Sam Ashton was brought straight into the starting eleven after signing for the club on Friday evening.

Midfielder Jack Hoey also returned to squad following a few games out.

Gloucester got the game underway and controlled the majority of the ball in the early stages.

As the half progressed, the Dolphins grew into the match but neither side looked capable of opening the scoring with the defences on top.

With 30 minutes on the clock, Antonio Diaz was brought down on the half way line in a challenge that could potentially have been deemed as last man but the referee opted with a yellow card for Ben Richards-Everton.

Poole had their first shot of the match on the 37^th minute as Ashton’s headed effort went wide of the post.

The half came to a goalless close but a spirited first 45 against a Gloucester side who sit 3^rd in the division.

The second half continued in the same fashion, both sides looking dangerous on the ball and smooth in transition but an evident lack of goal threat.

The visitors thought they had opened on the scoring on the hour mark, but the goal was disallowed for a foul on goalkeeper Ben Taylor.

With 15 minutes to go, Poole introduced Keelan O’Connell, but he was then forced off through injury just a few moments later.

With the game heading towards a goalless close, there were five additional minutes awarded.

Gloucester clinched it at the death as Dan Ball headed home from close to range to seal the three points for the visitors.

Certainly a spirited and much-improved performance from Poole but a defeat that leaves the Dolphins winless in six and stuck in the relegation zone.