Match Preview: Poole Town (A) – Saturday 16th July – 15:00
By Robert Santonna
Well, that wasn’t a bad result on Tuesday! Scoring 10 goals in a match is a serious effort for any side. Let alone a side that is still being pieced together in the early stages of pre-season. Many of them being trialists having only recently started playing together.
It was good to see some slightly different partnerships on Tuesday night. New signings Carlyle and Kyprianou commanded the defence well. Whilst an electric Tom Bearwish added a few more goals and assists to his name! Brad Ash played the poachers role, netting a few close-range efforts. I get more and more impressed with, our now new signing, Claudio Ofosu every time I see him play. He reminds me of Adama Traore, his speed, strength and stupidly fast feet that make his defenders want to just walk off the pitch!
It was good to see we had a few goalkeepers on trial too, it will be interesting to see how many goalkeepers we bring in this season. Recently Harrison Bruton signed a new deal with the clubs. Having shown everyone it is possible to make it into the first team after playing with the U23’s. Let’s hope he has paved the way for more and more U23 players to get their chance playing in the Claret and Blue!
One thing that was heavily noticeable on Tuesday was the intensity in the press. We forced so many errors from Bridport that ultimately led to a few of our goals. We put them under immense pressure, running so hard to win the ball when they had it at the back. Furthermore, hunting in groups as they looked to outlet it to their wide men. We will need to bring that same intensity if we are to reap the same rewards.
Today’s opponents
Today we visit Poole Town, they will be (on paper) the toughest team we have played so far. We have locked fins with the Dolphins 222 times. In those times, we have won 123 times, and drawn 34. They have made some good signings so far, adding an experienced Wes Fogden and the return of Luke Cairney. Dangerman Tony Lee also signed a new deal with the Dolphins, so he’s one to watch out for too!
Last season they finished 10th, scoring 74 goals (third highest in the league) in just 42 games. I believe it may have been the goals conceded that cost them, they shipped 69 goals the same amount of games. This proves they will need to have strengthened their back line if they wish to kick on this season.
I’m sure the inferior beach beholding Dolphins will be looking for promotion this season, it will be interesting to see how they fare against a team in the division they have fought so hard to get into over the last 4 years since their relegation from the National League South.
In terms of recency, our record is pleasing. Losing just once in 9, that one loss was in the Dorset Senior Cup Semi-Final. Unbeaten in the last four, easily our most critical game of that quartet was the 1-1 league game on Easter Monday back in 2019, as that point proved crucial in our Southern League title charge. If you cast your minds back you may remember Calvin Brooks scoring what must be the fastest Terras goal on tape, just 12.3 seconds after kick off!
Played for both!
This list could genuinely go on forever! So let’s go with most recent! Tommy Scott, Jack Dickson, Josh Leslie Smith and Mark Childs. Most of these left the Terras to go back to Poole!
Players to watch from the hosts:
Having previously mentioned them, I would say watch out for Fogden, Cairney and Lee!
Players to watch from the Terras:
Claudio Ofosu, Tom Bearwish, Brad Ash, Tom Blair and Cam Murray!
#UpTheTerras
