Poole Borough Football Club
Season 2003/04

THE SEASON

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Matt Bircumshaw - combined with Gary Fooks well down the right.

Borough Scorers: Scott Smith 37, Steve Russell 45, Tony White (pen) 72.
Borough Man of the Match: Matt Bircumshaw

Borough twice let a two goal lead slip against a well-organised Shaftesbury side who in the end fully deserved a share of the points at Turlin Moor.

The majority of the first half was played out in midfield with both sides struggling to carve out any clear chances, but as the game progressed Borough began to make some inroads and Scott Smith came close on 25 minutes, heading a Tony White centre narrowly wide.

Borough broke the deadlock on 37 minutes when a right wing corner fell to Scott Smith at the far post whose first shot came back off the post, but he was quick to recover and hammer home the rebound.

Simon Hallam nearly doubled the score as he stole in front of the visiting keeper to head a through ball which hit the bar, but Borough increased their lead immediately before the break after Kieron Campbell hit a perfect forward pass into the path of Steve Russell who ran through to convert.

Half Time 2-0

Shaftesbury came out after the break in determined mood and Borough were twice forced into desperate goalmouth clearances before the Rockies deservedly pulled a goal back on 54 minutes as a free kick wide on the right was headed home by Chris Freak at the far post.

By now the game had opened up and there were further chances at both ends before Borough restored their two goal lead on 72 minutes from the penalty spot after Steve Russell was brought down from behind in the area. Tony White converted.

Two minutes later Shaftesbury were themselves awarded a penalty and although Borough keeper Adam Nash did well to block the spot kick, Enzo Franco was first to the rebound to tuck the ball home. On 77 Shaftesbury were level as a long ball forward found Russell Dominey unmarked on the left to shoot past Nash.

Borough pushed forward and Tony White saw a downward header from a corner bounce over the bar, while a well-timed tackle denied James Edwards as he stole into the box. The Rockies also created some late chances and Nash pushed a looping shot over the bar and blocked a shot from the left in the final minutes to keep the score level at full time.

Borough: Adam Nash, Gary Fooks (Lee Russell 81), Tony White, Simon Hallam, Martin White, Stuart Merrell, James Edwards, Steve Russell, Scott Smith, Kieron Campbell (Alex Gunn 67), Matt Bircumshaw. Unused Sub: Shaun Clarke