Poole Town secured a vital 2-0 victory over Sholing at the BlackGold Stadium this afternoon, delivering an outstanding performance that highlighted their determination to fight for survival. This win marks Poole’s second consecutive home victory, and whilst they remain 20th in the table, they sit just two points behind 18th-placed Frome Town and 19th-placed Chertsey Town.

The match kicked off under a clear sky, with the Dolphins coming into this one off the back of a 2-0 defeat, eager to right some wrongs. Sholing, on the other hand, were positioned 9th and were looking to build on a 1-1 draw in their last outing.

Poole started brightly, taking the game to Sholing from the first whistle. Christos Batzelis had an early shot blocked in the penalty area in the 5th minute as the home side sought to capitalise on their early momentum. The sun was shining, the atmosphere electric, and everything seemed set for an exciting contest.

The first 15 minutes saw both teams battling hard, looking for the opening goal. Poole’s first real chance came in the 15th minute from a corner, where Jamie Whisken rose highest but sent his header just over the bar. Both teams were then shown yellow cards for separate incidents: Poole’s Josh Staunton received his in the 17th minute for stopping a Sholing counter, while Sholing’s Benny Read was cautioned in the 20th minute for a foul on Batzelis after a promising run into the box.

The match remained evenly contested as the teams continued to exchange chances. Fabio Lopes of Sholing had a brilliant opportunity in the 23rd minute, driving forward and playing in Michael Folivi, whose shot narrowly missed the target. Poole responded with pressure of their own, with Kristian Campbell causing problems down the right wing.

In the latter stages of the first half, Poole increased the pressure. A penalty shout for Poole came in the 41st minute when Selim Saied went down in the box, but the referee waved play on. Sholing had a brief flurry of activity in the 43rd minute, but Lopes seemed to run the ball out of play after some good build up. The first half ended goalless, despite the game opening up towards the end and a strong finish from the Dolphins.

The second half began with Sholing making a change, bringing on Busari for Read, but it was Poole who looked the more dangerous side early on. Harvey Slade dragged a shot wide in the 48th minute, but the Dolphins continued to press. In the 51st minute, Harry Thomas picked up a yellow card for a foul on Riley-Snow.

The Shed End was in full voice, and Poole were pushing hard for the breakthrough. In the 56th minute, goalkeeper Charles Searle made a vital save to deny Selim Saied’s close-range shot, a warning sign for Sholing. Poole’s dominance continued as they created more chances, with Ezio Touray’s header in the 63rd minute brilliantly saved by Searle after an inswinging cross from a set piece. The dolphins continued to knock on the door.

Sholing, sensing danger, began to sit deeper and looked to hit Poole on the counter. With the game finely balanced, Poole’s persistence finally paid off in the 72nd minute. Ezio Touray produced a superb finish, cutting in from the left and placing the ball into the top right corner to break the deadlock. Searle had no chance, and Poole were deservedly ahead.

With under 20 minutes left, Poole made two substitutions to freshen things up, bringing on Jamar Smith for the eventual Man of the Match Harry Thomas, and Charlie Davis for Tyrique Clarke. The changes seemed to invigorate the team, though Sholing pressed hard for an equaliser. Poole were now defending more deeply, soaking up pressure as Sholing threw men forward.

The final 10 minutes were tense, but Poole stood firm. In the 87th minute, Touray, who had been outstanding throughout, was substituted for Sam Ashton to a round of applause. Poole’s resilience was tested, but they stayed compact and held strong.

In the dying moments of the match, Poole put the game to bed. In the 93rd minute, Sholing threw everyone forward, leaving themselves exposed at the back. Oakley Hanger pounced on a loose ball, beat his defender, and calmly slotted into an empty net after Sholing’s keeper slipped. Hanger’s first goal for the club sealed the three points, and the Shed End erupted in celebration.

At the final whistle, Poole Town were 2-0 winners. It was a performance full of heart, fight, and determination, and the Dolphins successfully sunk the boatmen. The victory was a testament to their resilience and they will hope to continue this form and build on this momentum in their fight to stay up.

Oliver Kemp