Poole Borough Football Club
Season 2003/04

THE SEASON

Results, Reports

Latest News

Fixtures

Appearances

Scorers

Reserves

Add your comments on the match.

Shaun Clarke - first start of the season and a battling performance in defence.

Borough Man of the Match: Shaun Clarke

Borough were unfortunate not to gain at least a draw from the visit of unbeaten Hamworthy Recreation, who recorded their fifth win of the season after scoring the only goal of a highly entertaining game in front of a bumper derby crowd of 186.

Pete Morrell made changes from the side that played so poorly the week before with both Shaun Clarke and Alex Gunn making their first starts of the season.

Rec created couple of early chances and Gary Fooks did well to get in front of a forward and head clear a high cross. Borough responded with a great run to the edge of the box by James Edwards, but Steve Russell was unable to get a clean touch on the resulting pass and the chance was cleared.

As the half progressed Scott Smith put two attempts narrowly wide but on 35 minutes broke through and lifted his shot over the advancing Kevin Leonard in the Rec. goal, but a defender got back to hook the ball off the line.

Hamworthy however took the lead on 43 minutes following the break down of a Borough attack, Cris Rigler doing well to win the ball near the touchline before dispatching a long pass into the path of Mike Notley who ran through to score.

Half Time 0-1.

Borough came out in the second half and pushed forward in numbers looking for a way back. On 63 minutes they were awarded a free kick on the edge of the area and the resulting strike from Edwards cannoned off the bar with Leonard well beaten.

Three minutes later Gunn whipped in a low cross from the right and Martin White arrived at the near post but was just unable to force the ball past two defenders on the line.

Rec. were restricted to a couple of half chances on the break as Borough continued to dominate and with 10 minutes remaining Matt Bircumshaw stole into the box to head an Edwards cross but Leonard held the chance. Another good interchange on the edge of the visitors area set Edwards through but he shot over.

Deep into in injury time and a high left from Shaun Clarke found Edwards unmarked at the far post, but somehow Leonard got down to scramble the ball away for a corner and secure all three points for the visitors.

Borough: Adam Nash, Gary Fooks, Shaun Clarke, Lee Russell, Martin White, Stuart Merrell (Simon Hallam 50), James Edwards, Matt Bircumshaw, Scott Smith (Kieron Campbell 45), Alex Gunn (Matt Norris 74), Steve Russell.