Poole Borough Football Club
Season 2002/03

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Borough Scorers : Edwards, Bircumshaw

In a poor performance affected by heavy rain, Borough found themselves short of a few first teamers and were two goals down to their Bournemouth Sunday Premier League opponents before James Edwards and Matt Bircumshaw saved the teams blushes with two late goals.

Gillingham Town (0) 2,
Poole Borough (0) 1.
Mark Frowde Charity Trophy
Wednesday 7th August

Borough Scorer : Kieron Wall 50.

Gillingham lifted the Mark Frowde Trophy after coming from behind to secure victory inside the last five minutes after Borough had taken the lead early in the second half.

From the opening whistle Borough had to soak up a lot of pressure as the Gills pushed forward but apart from a shot blocked by Paul Maitland on 9 minutes the Hornets were able to deny any clear chances.

As the half progressed Borough began to make in roads into the Gillingham defence and the best chance of the half fell to Scott Arnold who collected pass from Gary Fooks on the edge of the area before making space and unleasing a shot which beat the keeper but cannoned back off the bar.

The half was affected by a number of niggley fouls and referee Taylor booked two Gillingham players plus Henry Simpson as tempers looked to boil over.

The football in the second period was much improved with both sides creating chances. Maitland blocked another effort after only 2 minutes of the restart, but on 50 minutes Borough took the lead after Jimmy Edwards floated a free kick into the area and Kieron Wall arrived unmarked to head home.

Matt Bircumshawe nearly scored a second minutes later when he stole the ball off a defender wide on the right, but his shot was deflected for a corner. Borough began to be pushed back again and were finally undone on 73 minutes as a deep free kick from the right was met by a forward at the far post to head in.

Kieron Wall was denied after he got on the end of a cross but his downward header was well saved low to the keepers right whilst at the other end Maitland again got his hand to a shot and deflect the ball away after a forward broke through.

Borough however were undone in the 86th minute when Maitland failed to collect the ball cleanly and it rebounded off his chest into the path of a Gillingham striker to convert. Borough pushed forward looking for an equaliser, but were unable to come back from such a late blow.

Borough : Paul Maitland, Craig Shanley (Henry Simpson 32), Mark Reeks, Shaun Clarke, Kieron Wall, Jimmy Edwards, Lee Symes (Alex Gunn 68), Matt Bircumshaw, Scott Smith, Scott Arnold, Gary Fooks. Unused Sub Sean Leaton.

Poole Borough (2) 3,
Cranborne (0) 2.
Pre-season Friendly
Saturday 3rd August

Borough Scorers : Fooks 10, Bircumshaw 28 (pen), Symes 90.

Despite taking a two goal lead into the second half, last seasons Dorset Division 2 champions nearly gave Borough a scare as they drew level before Lee Symes scored the winner in the final minutes.

Paul Maitland was again tested early on as he ran out smartly to deny a Cranborne forward, but Gary Fooks opened the scoring as he ran onto a defence splitting pass and took the ball past the keeper before slotting home.

Cranborne were producing the majority of chances but Borough scored their second 17 minutes from the break after Jimmy Edwards was brought down for a penalty and Matt Bircumshawe converted. Borough then stepped up their game and further chances fell to Lee Symes and Kieron Wall which both went close.

Fifteen minutes into the second period Cranborne pulled a goal back after Maitland failed to hold a high corner and a visiting forward was on hand to tap home. The half produced some end to end football and Cranborne looked to have forced a draw with less than five minutes remaining when a left wing cross was converted, but with time running out Symes stole into the visitors box and despite going to ground managed to toe poke the loose ball over the line.

Borough : Paul Maitland, Craig Shanley, Mark Reeks, Shaun Clarke, Sean Hebdon, Jimmy Edwards, Lee Symes, Matt Bircumshaw, Scott Smith, Kieron Wall, Gary Fooks. Subs (all used) Scott Arnold, Alex Gunn, Sean Leaton.

Poole Borough (3) 5,
Strouden Park (1) 1.
Pre-season Friendly
Thursday 1st August

Bournemouth Premier side Strouden Park gave Borough a good early test but in the end the Hornets cruised to their first pre-season win.

The visitors looked sharp in the early exchanges and Paul Maitland did well in the Borough goal when forced to save at close range. Borough took the lead on 16 minutes after Matt Bircumshaw collected the ball 25 yards out and seeing the keeper off his line, lifted a shot over his head in onto the net.

Four minutes later the second goal came after Scott Smith ran through and his shot was blocked by the keeper but Alex Gunn was on hand to bury the rebound. Strouden Park pulled a goal back from the penalty spot after a forward was brought down in the area by Sean Leaton but Smith restored the two goal advantage before half time when he latched onto an angled through ball and shot high into the top corner.

The second half saw two further Borough goals

Borough : Paul Maitland, Shaun Clarke, Mark Reeks, Scott Arnold, Henry Simpson, Sean Leaton, Alex Gunn, Matt Bircumshaw, Scott Smith, Kieron Wall, Lee Symes. Subs (all used) Sean Hebdon, Craig Shanley, James Morrell.

Poole Borough (0) 0,
Bridport (1) 3.
Pre-season Friendly
Tuesday 30th July

Borough were given a hard workout when new Bees boss Peter Conning brought his Western League side to Turlin Moor. Former Sturminster Marshall keeper Paul Maitland made his first start for Borough, as Pete Morrell looked at options to replace departing Dan Burton.

Bridport opened the scoring early on with a quick breakaway wich ended with a visiting forward unmarked to complete an easy tap in.

Borough should have gone level minutes when Kieron Wall put the ball over the line following a corner, but the referee signalled for an infringement and 'sin binned' Wall after he complained about the decision. The remainder of the first half saw periods of sustained pressure with Bridport looking very dangerous on the break.

Into the second half the visitors began to push forward in numbers and they can close when they hit the bar, before on 65 minutes they increased their lead when a forward volleyed in a low cross. Two minutes later Bridport got their third when they broke through with Borough appealing for offside and Stewart Mackenzie was chipped as he came out to narrow the angle.

Borough : Paul Maitland, Craig Shanley, Mark Reeks, Sean Hebdon, Henry Simpson, Scott Arnold, Alex Gunn, Matt Bircumshaw, Scott Smith, Kieron Wall, Gary Fooks. Subs (all used) Stuart Mackenzie, Shaun Clarke, Sean Leaton, Adam Clay, James Morrell.

Poole Borough (0) 2,
Chickerell United (0) 2.
Pre-season Friendly
Saturday 27th July

Borough Scorers : Kieron Wall 46, 53.

Borough shared the spoils with the Chickens in a match marred by a serious leg injury sustained by new signing Keith Middleton after an innocuous challenge just before the interval, which may well keep him out for the season.

An early chance fell to Kieron Wall, returning to the forward line, but he was unable to connect cleanly from a low cross. Stuart Mackenzie did well to tip a shot from the visitors over the bar but as the first half progressed Borough delivered a period of sustained pressure but were unable to break the deadlock. The best chances saw a shot from Middleton pushed past the post, two attempts by Scott Smith go narrowly wide and a chance from Matt Bircumshaw was kicked off the line.

Immediately after the interval Borough took the lead when Henry Simpson sent a long free-kick into the area and Kieron Wall ghosted past a static defence to provide a deft header which steered the ball over the keepers outstretched arm. Alex Gunn saw a shot hit the post before, on 53 minutes go away from his marker to head in a Sean Clarke right wing cross.

Chickerell continued to press and pulled a goal back on 58 minutes when a forward ran through and drew Mackenzie before lifting the ball over the keeper and drew level seven minutes from time when their striker broke through again and rode two tackles before squaring to his team-mate who taped the ball home.

Borough : Stuart Mackenzie, Craig Shanley, Mark Reeks, Sean Hebdon, Henry Simpson, Kieron Wall, Alex Gunn, Matt Bircumshaw, Scott Smith, Keith Middleton, Gary Fooks. Subs (all used) Lee Symes, Shaun Clarke, Sean Leaton.