Poole Town lose 3-1 at home to Walton & Hersham

Jordan Chiedozie’s second-half strike proved scant consolation as a clinical Walton side took all three points thanks to goals from Alexander Kelly, Stanley Flaherty, and Anis Nuur.

After a 2-1 victory away at Gosport Borough in midweek during interim boss James Ellis’ first game in charge, Poole were unchanged for the visit of Walton.

Dolphins controlled early possession but found themselves up against a potent counter-attacking outfit.

Kaya Tshaka almost gifted Walton an early lead when his sloppy back pass only found Flaherty, Max Evans alert to deny the attacker.

But Evans was powerless to stop the away side from taking the lead on 18 minutes.

A cross from the left found the unmarked Kelly, who steered past Evans to open scores.

It was two on 35 minutes, Flaherty getting on the scoresheet.

Picking the ball up on the right, Flaherty went all the way before finishing off the move himself.

Tshaka’s corner evaded everyone inside the Walton box – including the goalkeeper, the ball nestling into the back of the net.

However, the goal was chalked off for a foul inside the crowded area.

Poole would find a glimmer of hope in the second period.

Just two minutes after being brought on, Chiedozie had halved the deficit with a long-range strike.

Sensing an equaliser, Poole pushed forward.

Jake Scrimshaw felt he should have had a penalty when he was felled inside the area, before the striker had a shot well saved.

Holmes and Whisken then went close with a header, but Walton were looking dangerous again on the counter.

That proved to be fatal for Poole, as Nuur rounded off an attack to seal the three points for Walton.

Toby Holmes became the second Dolphin to receive a red card in two games, the striker picking up a second yellow for an incident with Walton’s goalkeeper.

Dolphins: Evans; Rose, Staunton, Whisken, Wright (Chiedozie, 55); Tshaka (Hutchinson, h-t), Murray, Lowes (Slade, 83), Fogden; Holmes, Scrimshaw.

Unused subs: Nippard, Thomas (g/k).