Poole Town claimed a thrilling 3-2 victory over Winchester City in a game full of drama, resilience, and moments of brilliance. The win, coming off the back of two previous draws, saw Poole put in a captivating performance, overcoming adversity to secure all three points on a sunny afternoon at the BlackGold Stadium.

The home side got off to an electric start and thought they had an early lead through Kristian Campbell in the third minute, only for the linesman’s flag to go up for offside. Despite the early setback, Poole continued to dominate and control possession and their persistence paid off in the 26th minute when Christos Batzelis found the opener after flicking the ball in from close range following a scramble in the box from a corner.

After the Dolphins took the lead, Winchester City then responded with some pressure of their own, creating a few chances and winning a flurry of corners. However, nothing materialized from these opportunities and it looked like their task was made even harder when Selim Saied had the ball in the back of the net in the 34th minute, only for the linesman to once again rule the goal offside. It was unfortunate for Saied who was making his home debut and first start for Poole, but throughout the game he proved to be a constant threat for the opposition defenders, continuously causing problems with his pace and directness.

Poole Town finished the first half strong, having had a lot of success down the right-hand side and went into the break with a deserved 1-0 lead.

The second period began with more pressure from the Dolphins yet in the 50th minute, against the run of play, Ik Hill scored a quickfire double for Winchester, turning the game on its head. Now trailing just 10 minutes into the second half, tempers flared and things went from bad to worse for the home side as Ezio Touray was sent off minutes later, receiving a second yellow card after an off-the-ball altercation during a Winchester counter-attack. With 10 men and a 2-1 deficit to overcome, it seemed like an uphill battle for Poole, but in the 67th minute, Kristian Campbell, on his home debut, delivered a moment of magic. As a loose ball dropped to him just inside his own half, he seized the opportunity and launched a long-range effort that sailed past the Winchester keeper and into the back of the net. The stunning goal not only brought Poole level but also shifted the momentum back in their favour.

Just four minutes later, Poole Town completed the turnaround. Selim Saied drove forward and released Tyrique Clarke one-on-one with the goalkeeper. Clarke showed composure, taking the ball around the keeper before calmly slotting it into an empty net and wheeling away in celebration as Poole now led 3-2.

With the game entering its final stages, both teams were cautious in possession. In the 80th minute, Poole made a key substitution as Jamie Whisken came on for Tyrique Clarke, marking an incredible 501 appearances for the club. The experienced defender slotted in at the heart of the defence as Poole switched to a back five for the closing moments.

Winchester continued to push forward and had several chances, including a long-range effort that forced an excellent save from Ben Taylor. But Poole’s defence held firm, and despite nine minutes of added time, they managed to weather the storm and hold onto all 3 points

The final whistle confirmed the victory, much to the delight of the 722 fans in attendance. The club’s celebrations were further boosted by a special gesture for International Women’s Day, offering free admission to all women and girls as part of the Her Game Too initiative. The win sees Poole close the gap to just two points behind Winchester, who sit one place above them in 18th as they continue their push for safety.