INFLUENTIAL midfielder Taffy Richardson got Poole Town’s title defence off to a flyer – then set his sights on more goals as he continues to defy the years.

Richardson headed a 50th-minute winner as the reigning Wessex League champions defeated a hard-working New Milton Town side 1-0 at Tatnam on Saturday.

And the 42-year-old, who is still causing opposition midfielders plenty of problems, wants to get his name on the scoresheet on a more regular basis this term.

He told the Echo: “I feel I’m going to score 10 this season because I haven’t scored that many for a while.

“But I’ve got to keep fit first.”

Dolphins boss Tom Killick was relieved to secure maximum points after his team were made to work extremely hard by New Milton.

“We had a few chances and dominated possession, but we missed a few opportunities,” he explained.

“It’s a cliché but in the opening game you just want to get off to a good start and a few of the other teams dropped points today.”

When asked which teams he felt would offer the biggest threat to Poole’s crown, Killick said the “usual suspects” of Wimborne, Fareham, Winchester, Brockenhurst and Moneyfields.

But with all of those sides – except Fareham – slipping up on the opening day, New Milton Town boss Andy Bye thinks Poole remain the team to beat.

He said: “They won the league by a mile last season and they haven’t exactly lost too many from that side.

“So if they keep what they’ve got – plus they’ve signed Ross Lloyd from Totton and Charlie Austin up front is always a threat – I can’t really see past them and maybe Winchester.

“I think it will be harder for them this time. But I think they’d be disappointed not to be up there in the Wessex League with the side they’ve got. There would be something wrong if that didn’t happen.”

Speaking about Saturday’s 1-0 defeat, Bye added: “We defended well and kept a good shape and I was pleased with the effort.

“I felt the goal was probably a foul on our goalkeeper but you couldn’t begrudge them a goal.”

Poole Town: Jones, Whitley, Browne, Dibba, P Smith, Bailey-Pearce, Hubbard, Richardson, T Smith, Brown (Cook, 75), Austin. Unused subs: Sturgess, S Smith, Ackerman, Trembath.

New Milton Town: Anderson, R Chengadu, Clarke, Coleman, Wallis, Kenna, Byers, Burt, Cox, Lilley, R Lock (Quirk, 50). Unused subs: Small, Woods, L Lock.