Poole Borough Football Club
Season 2003/04

THE SEASON

Results, Reports

Latest News

Fixtures

Appearances/Scorers

Reserves

PBFC Youth

Shaun Clarke:
Another solid performance at the back

Conditions

Mild, Dry and bright. Excellent playing surface.

Borough Colours

Gold & Black shirts, Black Shorts, Black Socks

Borough Man of the Match: Shaun Clarke

Borough's three game winning run came to an end as a goal in each half saw Hamworthy Recreation take all three points in the local derby at Magna Road. Rec. had the best of the early exchanges and Shaun Clarke was forced to head clear under pressure in the first minute.

Further home pressure saw a Cris Rigler header come back off the post on 11 minutes, and soon after the striker had the ball in the back of the net when he converted a low right wing cross at the far post cross but the goal was disallowed for offside.

Borough began to make inroads and Alex Gunn broke through on the right before crossing to Alan Fooks in front of goal who brought the ball down well but lifted his shot over. Further chances fell to Matt Bircumshaw and James Edwards which both went narrowly wide while at the other end Adam Nash stood his ground to make a superb point-blank save following a Hamworthy break away.

On 37 minutes Tony White got the ball in the net for Borough but play was pulled back for an earlier offside. Home keeper Kevin Leonard was also called upon to make a crucial block to deny Shaun Clarke on the goal line, but on the stroke of half-time Rec. snatched the lead when Rigler was presented with a simple header to convert a free-kick.

Half-Time 1-0

Borough pushed forward after the interval looking for the equaliser and Bircumshaw shot wide from distance. On 56 minutes a right wing cross from Alex Gunn was cleared from a corner and from the resulting flag kick Rec. somehow managed to scramble the ball off the line and to safety.

With Borough looking the more likely to break the second half deadlock, disaster struck on 63 minutes after a poor defensive pass was picked up by the home side and following a slick three man move John Peat converted a right wing cross.

Borough continued to press forward and Tony White hit the post with a free kick and the Hornets also saw a penalty appeal turned down after Lee Russell appeared to deflect a cross with his arm.

Darren Abreu came on and impressed up front but again Rec. broke through and Nash saved well again with his legs to deny Rigler. Abreu created a final chance for Borough in injury time battling well before putting the ball in the path of Gunn, but the chance went wide.

Borough: Nash, Cockwell (Young 89), T. White, Orchard, Clarke, G.Fooks, Edwards, Gunn, Russell, A. Fooks, Bircumshaw (Abreu 68). Unused sub: M.White.