Poole Borough Football Club

THE SEASON

Results, Reports & Data

Latest News

Fixtures

Appearances

Scorers

Reserves

Add your comments on the match.

Scott Smith
Always dangerous up front and
scored the vital winner

Home

News

Results

Borough Scorer : Smith 61.
Borough Man of The Match : Scott Smith

Another season for Borough – another major milestone, as the Hornets hosted a Dorset Premier League game for the first time and also unveiled their new permanent home pitch at Turlin Moor. It was therefore fitting that in a game where every Borough player battled for the full 90 minutes, Scott Smith, who has been with the club since the start, scored the historic first goal that separated the sides.

The early exchanges were played at a frantic pace with Borough in the ascendancy, and Scott Arnold got behind the visiting defence after only 5 minutes, but his through ball to Smith was desperately hacked away. Arnold unlocked the Westland defence again on 15 minutes when he stole the ball and pushed it wide to Smith whose cross was met by head of Bircumshaw running in from the right, but the attempt went narrowly over.

Westland began to push forward as the half progressed but were restricted to a single long-range effort. It was Arnold who had the best chance of the half when he picked up a pass from Smith outside the area, and teed up a shot, which the visiting keeper did well to push past the post.

HT 0-0

Borough continued the pressure in the second period and Smith met a long Gary Fooks corner at the far post, but his header went just wide. They finally broke the deadlock on 61 minutes when debutante Sean Leaton drove in a low cross from the right and Smith nipped behind a static defence to head home, to the delight of the 100 strong crowd.

Borough created further opportunities to make the game safe, including a Dan Herrington left wing cross which hit the crossbar, but Westland were presented with an opportunity when a forward intercepted a back pass from Leaton, but he shot wide.

With the visitors pushing forward in the last five minutes seeking an equaliser, Borough’s defending was resolute but it was still a relief to hear the final whistle, which heralded the first three points for Borough in the counties top flight.

Borough – Paul Maitland, James Edwards, Mark Reeks, Sean Clarke, Sean Leaton, Kieron Wall, Alex Gunn (Dan Herrington 63), Matt Bircumshaw, Scott Smith, Scott Arnold, Gary Fooks. Unused subs : Jamie Townsend, James Morrell.