Poole Borough Football Club

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Scott Arnold
Caught the eye playing just behing the front two.

Borough Scorers : Alan Fooks 17, 49.
Borough Man of The Match : Scott Arnold

Borough continued their unbeaten run in 2003, but were left feeling disappointed as they let a two goal lead slip in and saw striker Alan Fooks sent off for the first time in his Borough career with 15 minutes remaining.

Sturminster started the game with an early header which was scrambled clear, but Borough soon took control and the visitors had keeper Andy Hall to thank on 11 minutes when he executed a superb double save to deny Scott Smith at point blank range. Seconds later Hall was in action again as he tipped a long-range lob from Alan Fooks onto the bar.

On 15 minutes Sean Hebdon went close with a diving header but Borough took the lead two minutes later when Smith broke through and slipped the ball to Alan Fooks who coolly took the time to pick his spot past the advancing keeper.

Borough were playing some good passing football with Alex Gunn and Jamie Wilson finding space down both wings and Alan Fooks came close again as he just failed to connect to a low cross.

Sturminster came back in the final minutes of the half and Paul Maitland did well to collect an angled shot while just before the break a visiting forward broke through but shot over the bar with the goal at his mercy.

HT 1-0

That miss looked costly four minutes after the restart as Alan Fooks again found space in the area as he ran on to an angled pass from son Gary, before rifling his shot home.

Hall was in action again blocking another Fooks shot on the turn and Scott Arnold shot just over from 25 yards out as Borough looked likely to overrun their visitors. Hall also kept his team in the game as he parried a shot from Jamie Wilson onto the post and Wilson was first to the rebound but hit the upright again.

Sturminster, however brought themselves back into the game on 64 minutes as Johnny Hayes collected a long throw-in before turning smartly and shooting past Maitland. The visitors created further chances and Paul Getley was forced to head clear under pressure before another shot went just wide.

Unfortunately with the match in the balance the defining moment lay with referee Vincent as he showed inconsistency with his previous handling of the game by giving Alan Fooks a straight red card after the veteran striker had disputed a poor offside decision.

Borough continued to create pressure, but missed the final touch in the middle and Sturminster sensed their chance, equalising inside the last five minutes when Ian Moore headed in a corner at the far post. Scott Arnold nearly won the game for Borough in the last minute as he ran into the box, but Hall was again positioned himself smartly to block the chance and secure a share of the points.

Borough : Paul Maitland, Shaun Clarke (James Edwards 58), Tony White, Sean Hebdon, Paul Getley, Jamie Wilson, Alex Gunn, Scott Arnold, Scott Smith, Alan Fooks, Gary Fooks. Unused sub : James Morrell, Andy Curtis.