Poole Borough Football Club

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Borough Scorers: Dan Herington 7, Sean Hebdon 54.

In front of a record crowd of 211 at Turlin Moor, Borough twice lead against title chasing Hammers before the visitors substitute Dave Dick scored two late goals to secure all three points in a highly entertaining local derby.

Hammers created an early chance for player manager Sean Bartlett whose header went narrowly wide, but Borough took the lead on 7 minutes after Scott Arnold won a free kick on the edge of the penalty area and Dan Herrington stepped up to bend a superb shot into the top right hand corner.

Hamworthy's quick forward play resulted in a number of chances to draw level and Paul Maitland did well to block a shot on 11 minutes. Borough's Matt Bircumshaw saw a shot well saved but Hammers were creating the majority of chances and two attempts went over the bar before Maitland got out quickly on 20 minutes to make another good block.

Tony White made a great tackle to deny a visiting forward as the Hornets defence worked overtime hold on to their lead, but it was not all one way as a Jamie Wilson low cross alluded defenders and forwards in the visitors area and later a Scott Arnold shot went just wide.

On 35 minutes Maitland made another good stop, but the Hammers drew level 3 minutes later when Paul Honeybun and Wilson fought to win a through ball, with the forward winning that battle before running wide of Maitland and converting from a narrow angle.

The Hammers finished on top and could have turned around in the lead, but saw a shot hit the post after a great three-man move and another chance fell to Honeybun who shot wide.

HT 1-1

Borough started the second period with their best spell of the game and were rewarded on 54 minutes when Sean Hebdon arrived in the box to steer a downward header from a corner under the desperate dive of Mike Hall in the home goal to put the Hornets back in the lead.

Further Borough chances were created for Arnold, who shot over and Scott Smith with a shot saved by Hall, but as time went on Hamworthy began to take control again and Borough defended resolutely to hold on to the lead. However the Hornets strong rearguard action was dented after captain James Edwards was sent off on 81 minutes for a second bookable offence when he reacted after being pulled back.

Hamworthy pushed players forward and the Borough defence was finally breached a minutes before the end of normal time when United broke down the right and the subsequent low cross was turned in by Dick at the far post. With the gloom setting in, the referee showed no sign of blowing up and a Hamworthy free kick was headed inches wide before in the eighth minute of stoppage time the ball fell to Dick just inside the area to hammer home.

Amazingly there was still chance for Borough to salvage a point as Smith got behind the Hamworthy defence looking to latch on to a White through ball but just failed to get a clean connection and the Hammers collected all three points to retain their outside chance of the title.

Borough : Paul Maitland, Matt Bircumshaw, Tony White, Dan Herrington, Sean Hebdon (Shaun Clarke 62), Paul Getley, Alex Gunn, James Edwards, Scott Smith, Scott Arnold, Jamie Wilson. Unused subs: James Morrell, Aaron Woldon.