Poole Borough Football Club
Season 2009/10

Borough Man of the Match

Ross Mills

Borough Line-up
1. Jakub Malara n 81
2. Patrick Murray
3. John Bates
4. Ross Mills (C)
5. Steve Tricky
6. Lucasz Balinski (Watson 69)
7. Alex Grimason
8. Martin Warren (Thomas 69)
9. Matt White
10. James Stickland (Gallagher 54)
11. Maciej Jaksztas

Substitutes
Sean Gallagher (for Stickland 54)
Adam Watson (for Balinski 69)
Jason Thomas (for Warren 69)

Scorers

Conditions
Cold, overcast with heavy showers

Borough Colours
Red & Grey Shirts, Red Shorts, White Socks

Westland Colours
Blue Shirts, White Shorts & Blue Socks

Direction of Play
Borough attacked changing room end first half

Officials
Referee: Mr Robert Dabbs
Assistants: Mr David Torrance
& Mr Alan Morris

	Westland Sports (0) 1,
	Poole Borough (2) 3.

Dorset Premier League
Saturday 20th February 2010

Replacement Borough keeper Sean Gallagher collecting a cross

More Photos

Having stormed into a two-goal lead after only 10 minutes, Borough delivered a magnificent defensive performance to preserve their advantage before a third Hornets goal 20 minutes from time looked likely to see them cruise to victory. However there was a frantic last 10 minutes after the referee awarded the home side a penalty, showing Borough keeper Jakub Malara a straight red card in the process and after Westlands converted the spot kick, Borough had to resort to some desperate defending before they were able to celebrate an important victory.

In very heavy conditions underfoot, Borough started well and deservedly took the lead after 7 minutes when Lucasz Balinski made a strong run to the edge of the area before slipping the ball wide to James Stickland on the right who fired home from a narrow angle. 0-1.

And two minutes later Borough doubled the lead, with Balinski again the provider, sending an inch perfect pass from the half way line into the path of Matt White who took the ball past the home keeper before coolly slotting home. 0-2.

Westlands were quick to respond and within a minute Malara was forced to make a fine block to deny Mike Rousell with Alex Grimason on hand to clear the loose ball. With the home side pushing forward in numbers Steve Tricky did well to clear a left wing cross under pressure while a 20 yard effort from the home side went narrowly wide.

Borough continued to defend tenaciously against the home onslaught but on 33 minutes a Rousell left wing cross picked out a home forward clear in space, but Malara did well to save with his legs at point blank range.

Half time 0-2

Sports came close again immediately after the break when a near post header from a left wing cross went narrowly wide.

Borough though also began to carve out chances with Stickland sending in a low drive from 30 yards out which the home keeper collected at the second attempt while the gloveman also denied Maciej Jaksztas from distance.

The pressure however continued on the Borough goal and Ross Mills made a superb last ditch block to deflect a shot wide on 61 minutes while three minutes later John Bates executed a well timed tackle to hook the ball away from a home striker.

On 67 minutes Westlands were denied by the post as a shot from wide on the right came back off the far upright and Malara was on hand to smother the ball. However a Borough break away two minutes later sent substitute Sean Gallagher through down the right and his low cross was dummied by Martin Warren allowing the ball to run through to Balinski who picked his spot from 10 yards out to increase the Hornet’s lead. 0-3.

However the complexion of the game changed on 81 minutes when Malara came out quickly to challenge a home forward to a through pass angled away from goal, and as the players clashed for the loose ball, the striker went ground resulting in the referee not only awarding a penalty but controversially deciding to show the Borough keeper a straight red card. Gallagher took up the goalkeeping duties between the sticks, but was unable to get a hand to the resulting spot kick from Mike Rousell. 1-3.

So from being in a comfortable position, Borough were forced to scrap at the back to maintain their advantage knowing another goal conceded could quickly become two. And the closest the home side came on 86 minutes when Gallagher did well to block an attempt at point blank range and although the shot on rebound crossed the line, the goal was disallowed for an offside, giving Borough the breathing space required to hold on for victory.