GARY Funnell picked up where he left off last season as his brace inspired Wessex One new boys Poole Town to an opening-day success over VTFC.

The gifted midfielder was a prolific goalscorer during the Dolphins' promotion campaign last term.

And he proved he is more than capable of carrying on in the same fashion as he scored two fine strikes as Tommy Killick's side stormed to victory.

Funnell opened the scoring after just five minutes with a glorious long-range effort that rippled the net.

Vosper were perhaps caught cold as they made their way to the ground only at 3pm, delaying kick-off by half an hour amid the traffic chaos that blighted the A31 on Saturday.

Killick's men doubled the lead 10 minutes before the break as Darren Crook, on his Poole debut, beat the offside trap and calmly lobbed the goalkeeper.

But the visitors hit back after the interval to reduce the arrears, sending the Dolphins into their shells as they attempted to stem the flow.

But Poole had the final say in the closing moments as a darting run from substitute Ryan Toms saw his shot blocked only to fall kindly for Funnell to hammer home from 12 yards.

Delighted boss Tommy Killick said: "Vospers are not one of the strongest sides we will face, but they're not the weakest either. They are a decent side and when we had a lapse in the second half, their tails were up and we got a bit edgy.

"This division is a step-up in standard and we need to perform at a high level every week otherwise we will get punished. But to get that first win will give us a lot of confidence and it was a really good start."

Killick was also full of praise for his two-goal midfielder who had the measure of Vosper's former Southampton midfielder Kevin Gibbens.

Killick said: "Gary just gets better and better. Gibbens is still a very good player but Gary bossed the midfield.

"He scored something like 25 goals for us last season because of the way he bombs forward. He is well capable of doing the same this season."

Poole: Spillane, Whiteley, Collins, Cherrett, Hounsell, Spalding, Richardson, Funnell, White, Crook (Toms, 80), Glenister (Bayston, 90). Unused subs: Goodbody, Reeks, Chivers.