The Dolphins got off to a fantastic start in their 2025/26 league campaign with a 1-0 win over Hanwell Town at Tatnam on Saturday afternoon.

Joint-managers Joe Lea and Pat Suraci made two changes from the 2-2 draw with Salisbury as Billy Lowes and Shaq Gwengwe missed out through suspension and were replaced by Selim Saied and Josh Staunton.

The referee’s whistle got the ball rolling on a sunny afternoon at a revamped Tatnam with both sides battling away in a feisty affair early on.

Poole had the first real opportunity of the match through Harvey Slade, but his header was parried away by Sam Beasant in the Hanwell goal.

The visitors started to assert themselves in the game and almost took the lead after a scramble inside the six-yard box was eventually cleared away by Corey Jordan.

Kris Campbell showed his class on the 16^th minute, but his curling effort drifted just wide of the post as the score remained goalless.

The deadlock was finally broken on 27 minutes as a fantastic through ball from Charlie Davis found Slade in space and he calmy evaded the challenges and placed the ball in the back of the net to give Poole a 1-0 lead.

The Dolphins looked destined to double their lead through Kris Campbell but an excellent last-ditch challenge from a Hanwell defender prevented the goalwards shot.

Hanwell ramped up the pressure in search of an equaliser just before the break through Dan Carr but his effort crashed off the crossbar.

The half time whistle arrived with Poole in the commanding position of a 1-0 lead.

The second half continued in similar fashion with both sides looking dangerous on the front foot, but neither side were able to find that next vital goal in this match up.

Campbell went close again on the 60^th minute and then Saied followed up but was once again denied by brilliant goalkeeping from Beasant.

Lea and Suraci made their first two changes of the game with Tyrrell Sampson and Keelan O’Connell being introduced for Henry Spalding and Ik Hill.

Hanwell went close to equalising on the 77^th minute but a superb strike was well matched by Parkes who was having a fine game in between the sticks for Poole.

With only ten minutes remaining, Hanwell continued to look to draw things level, but the Dolphins defence remained resolute in search of the win.

The full-time whistle was blown, and Slade’s first half strike was enough to earn a well grafted three points on the opening day of the season.

Next up for Poole is a trip to Sholing on Tuesday, followed by a visit to Berkshire to face Bracknell Town on Saturday.