Poole Borough Football Club
Season 2003/04

THE SEASON

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Shaun Clarke
Another solid performance
at the back with some great interceptions.

Borough Scorers: James Edwards 21; Steve Russell 44, 58; Kieran Campbell 63.
Borough Man of the Match: Shaun Clarke

With strenuous efforts taken to ensure the pitch was playable following heavy morning rain, the Borough faithful were rewarded with an impressive display resulting in the Hornets recording their third successive victory under caretaker manager Tony White which lifted the team to fourth in the table.

Dan Herrington, recently returned from Cobham, made his 100th appearance in a Borough shirt while Dan Cockwell, home from university made his first start for the Hornets since May 2001.

The Hornets made an impressive start and Alex Gunn was only denied by the keepers legs after latching on to a through ball from James Edwards. Gary Fooks also went close with a 20 yard drive before Borough took the lead in the 21st minute when Jamie Wilson cross was cleared only as far as Edwards just inside the area and the resulting shot took a deflection to beat the home keeper.

Borough had a penalty appeal turned away on 26 minutes after Steve Russell appeared to be bundled over when running in on goal, but Stur' came close to equalising on the half hour from their first corner as the ball fell to a forward in the box, but he failed to get a clear shot and the Borough defence were able to recover.

Immediately before the interval however, Borough doubled their lead when the visitor’s gloveman could only parry a rasping Gary Fooks free kick and Russell was first to the rebound to tuck the ball home.

Half Time 2-0.

Borough continued to dominate after the break and could have increased the score only three minutes after the restart when Gary Fooks sent a great through ball into the path of Russell cutting in from the left, but the visiting keeper somehow managed to get a hand to the resulting lob which did enough to deflect the chance.

Russell was not to be denied his second however which came after 58 minutes as he collected a through ball from Dan Cockwell with his back to goal before turning well and hitting an unstoppable shot.

Kieran Campbell came off the bench for the Hornets and within 5 minutes made an impact on the game as he beat a static back line too busy looking for an offside call, to run through from the halfway line before deftly taking the ball past the keeper and converting.

To their credit Stur' did not let their heads drop and with Borough taking their foot off the gas, had their best period of the game which on 66 minutes resulted in a forward breaking through but he was denied by a good block from Adam Nash. However the Cherries scored from the resulting corner as the low centre was deflected into his own net by Tony White.

Stur' saw three more chances go wide but there were also further opportunities for Russell and Campbell which were both denied by good saves and deep in injury time Alex Gunn broke through but he elected to pass rather then go for goal himself and the chance was cleared.

Borough: Adam Nash, Dan Cockwell, Tony White, Dan Herrington (Martin White 74), Shaun Clarke (Scott Orchard 69), Gary Fooks, James Edwards, Alex Gunn, Matt Bircumshaw (Kieran Campbell 58), Steve Russell, Jamie Wilson.