Poole Borough Football Club
Season 2003/04

THE SEASON

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Steve Russell - capped his debut with two superbly taken goals.

Borough Scorers: James Edwards 18; Kieron Campbell 27; Matt Bircumshaw 40, 59; Steve Russell 52, 53.
Borough Man of the Match: Steve Russell

Borough manager Pete Morrell unveiled seven new signings in his opening line-up, six of whom were first team regulars at champions Hamworthy United last season, and his team responded with an empathic victory against a spirited Stourpaine side.

After a tight opening with no clear chances at either end Stourpaine came close to breaking the deadlock with a shot from the left which went wide. Borough however took the lead 2 minutes later when Tony White sent over a deep cross from the left, which found James Edwards unmarked in the area who delivered a clinical finish.

The Hornets took control of the game and doubled their lead on 27 minutes when Matt Bircumshaw took the ball to the edge of the area before squaring to Kieron Campbell to convert. Five minutes before the break Borough increased their lead further when Edwards sent through a perfectly weighted pass for Bircumshaw to run on to and his shot took a slight deflection to beat the Stourpaine keeper.

The visiting gloveman did well to make a double save from Stuart Merrell and Campbell, but Stourpaine also created chances before the break and Adam Nash was forced to make a good save at close range.

Half Time 3-0

Stourpaine opened the second half brightly and forced another fine save from Nash as he tipped a shot over the bar while another shot flew just over. Borough however broke back and on 52 minutes Steve Russell latched onto a through ball knocked into the left channel and the winger ran through to convert low to the keeper's right.

A minute later in a rerun of the previous move, Tony White sent a long pass into Steve Russell's path and this time as after reaching the edge of the area he executed a deft chip which went in off the right hand post. On 59 minutes Bircumshaw scored the sixth dispatching a well struck shot after the ball fell to him inside the area.

To their credit Stourpaine did not let their heads go down and they broke through on 66 minutes but the final shot was straight at Nash. It was Borough, however who continued to dominate and Merrell saw a 25 yard shot tipped onto the bar, and a further long range effort also saved well low down. Edwards also saw a shot blocked by the keeper and Martin White was first to the loose ball but could only lift his shot over the bar, but Borough had done more than enough to claim top spot on the opening day of the season.

Borough: Adam Nash, Lee Russell (Shaun Clarke 46), Tony White, Simon Hallam, Matt Norris (Shaun Parker 77), Stuart Merrell, James Edwards, Martin White, Steve Russell (Alex Gunn 72), Kieron Campbell, Matt Bircumshaw.