POOLE Town's title hopes look as though they are in tatters after Taffy Richardson had a late goal' disallowed for offside.

The experienced campaigner slotted home with about 10 minutes to go after receiving a pass from Trefor Smith.

But the effort was ruled out because it was deemed Smith had passed the ball forward, not square, as many people in a crowd of 123 at Tatnam felt he had done.

Apart from that, there was little goalmouth action as Moneyfields successfully stifled Poole, who slipped seven points behind Premier leaders Totton with a game in hand.

Dolphins boss Tommy Killick said: "We scored a goal a lot of people felt was legitimate that was ruled out for offside.

"That was with 10 minutes left. That would have won us the game.

"It is another situation where the smallest margins can make a big difference.

"Take our game against Totton. Their goalkeeper has made a brilliant save in the last minute.

"It's difficult for us with Totton now but it's no surrender, not at the moment."

Killick added: "It's looking ever more difficult with Totton winning and us dropping points.

"But you only have to look at Saturday's results, Wimborne and Poppies dropping points and Vospers surviving a last-minute goal line clearance to beat Christchurch, to know it does get difficult for the top teams at this stage of the season.

"It's a shame we couldn't beat Moneyfields because I had a sneaking suspicion Wimborne might drop points at Brock.

"We could have put some pressure on them had we won."

Poole Town: Harvell, Whitley, I Richardson, Hogan, T Smith, Gill, A Culliford (S Richardson 60), Skelton, Holmes (S Smith 70), Brown (Saadi 80), Cann. Unused subs: Roberts, Ayres.