FOOTBALLPoole Town 2, Brading Town 0
A RESOLUTE Romans side made Sydenhams Wessex League, Premier Division title favouites Poole Town work very hard on Saturday but two goals in the last 20 minutes killed off the brave Brading challenge.
Steve Brougham’s men went to Poole with an understrength side, missing five players from the team which lost 1-0 to Laverstock in midweek, though they did welcome back Dean Stuber from suspension.
Poole kicked off looking to continue their impressive run of 25 goals in five games, including an 8-0 demolition of Christchurch.
The home side could have scored within 30 seconds when hesitation in the Brading defence allowed an early chance but Joe McCormack saved well low down and the danger was cleared.
The home side started to get on top and forced a number of corners, but the outstanding central partnership of Ollie Fleming and Stuber kept the Poole strikers at bay. The whole Brading worked their socks off in the first half and the only down side were the three yellow cards shown by the referee.
The second half saw Brading grow in confidence as Poole failed to carve out any chances and with the pressure mounting the visitors were looking for the opportunity to snatch a victory. The deadlock was finally broken in the 69th minute when Poole scored with a deflected shot.
And 11 minutes later Poole doubled their advantage with a goal which appeared to be offside.
In the final minute Dan Vale’s cheeky lobbed shot just failed to dip in time.
Teenager Nathan Lewis, 16, impressed on his debut for the side.
Brading: McCormack, Phelps, Przespolewski, Sunsberg, Fleming, Stuber, Sprooles, Rayner, Armstrong, Vale, Lewis. Subs: Hitchcock, Greening, Brougham.