Stunning Parsons strike sees City edge out promotion chasing rivals

A stunning first half strike from Harry Parsons was the difference between City and Poole Town at Cannon Clarke Stadium @ Twerton Park this afternoon. The visitors enjoyed the majority of the possession but a fourth successive league clean-sheet for City ensured they headed back to Dorset empty-handed.

The pattern of the game was set from the opening exchanges as Poole passed the ball around impressively but found turning this neat build-up play into goalscoring chances a tougher test. A tame Lowes shot on 11 minutes was the only time they tested Harvey Wiles-Richards in the opening exchanges. Prior to this Parsons had fired a low shot narrowly wide but he made no mistake from his next sight of goal. Poole failed to clear an 18th minute Jordan Tillson free-kick allowing Joe Raynes to tee-up Parsons to find the top corner form the edge of the box. City continued to struggle to impose themselves on the game but had a great chance to double their lead nine minutes before the break when Ollie Chamberlain was tripped a yard outside the area. However, Enzio Boldewijn’s free-kick flew over via a slight touch off the wall.

The second half saw the Dolphins maintain their upper hand and they should have levelled on 57 minutes but an unmarked Campbell directed his header off target. Wiles-Richards then produced a smart block to deny Saied. The best chance for the away side came in the 70th minute when City failed to deal with a long ball forward leaving Wiles-Richards in no-mans land but Touray lifted the ball wide of the inviting goal. This was City’s final real scare and, with Poole throwing more men forward in the final quarter, they could have given themselves breathing space – Reuben Reid seeing his shot well-saved by Parkes and Boldewijn flashing a shot narrowly wide. Five minutes of stoppage time came and went with City finally in control and they could celebrate a hard-fought win over a promotion chasing rival.