Resilient Poole victory comes at high injury cost

A first home win and clean sheet of the 17-18 season for City came at a cost this afternoon at Twerton Park. Marvin Morgan’s 42nd minute goal was enough to beat Poole Town but, having already lost Andy Watkins with a hamstring injury before the game, they saw Frankie Artus, Connor Lemonheigh-Evans and Billy Murphy all depart with injuries before half-time. Lemonheigh-Evans’ looked the most serious, the Bristol City loan player stretchered off following a wild challenge by Devlin that didn’t even earn the Poole no.8 a booking. The game itself saw City in control for long periods. Early chances were few and far between but as the half progressed City began to create openings and they finally struck three minutes before the interval, Morgan latching onto a great Jack Compton pass and driving the ball across Hutchings into the corner of the net. The second half continued with City on top but they couldn’t find a vital second goal, Jamie Lucas having a close-range effort blocked and Jack Batten shooting straight at Hutchings after a neat turn, their best chances. This allowed the visitors to put City under some pressure in the closing stages and it took an excellent save by Luke Southwood to keep out Lee’s well struck shot a minute from time, and ensure a third successive win a few minutes later.