Poole Borough Football Club
Season 2004/05

THE SEASON

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Tony White
Lead with the front with two equalising goals before setting up the final goal to settle the match.

Conditions

Warm & Sunny. Little breeze.

Borough Colours

Gold & Black Shirts, Black Shorts, Black Socks

Cranborne Colours

All Red

Direction of Play

Borough attacked Upton end first half

Borough Scorers: Tony White 16, 49; Carl Marshall 63, Bircumshaw 87.
Borough Man of the Match: Tony White

Two goals from player-manager Tony White built the platform for Borough's opening day victory, but the Hornets had to come from behind twice before they finally secured 4-2 home win against Dorset Premier League new boys Cranborne.

Cranborne made a dream start to their first game back in the counties top flight for 12 seasons, scoring after only three minutes when Ollie Hepworth broke through on the right before cutting inside and beating Borough keeper Adam Nash inside his near post. Minutes later a scramble on the penalty spot saw Andrew Loader in the visitors goal clearing only as far Alex Gunn on the edge of the area, but his shot was headed off the line, while at the other end Cranborne saw a header flash just the wrong side of the upright.

Borough however drew level on 16 minutes after they were awarded a free-kick wide on the right and Danny Herrington floated over a perfect ball and Tony White arrived at the far post to head home.

On 29 minutes Kris Anderton came close to restoring the lead for the Cranes when he was picked out unmarked on the right but shot narrowly wide. However he made amends minutes later when the Borough defence failed to clear a low left wing cross and the striker was on hand to convert the loose ball.

With Borough pushing forward looking for the equaliser Andy Barham cam close to opening his account with a free-kick on the left hand edge of the area which Loader did well to tip onto the bar at full stretch and on 40 minutes Gunn sent over a deep cross from the right which Matt Bircumshaw headed just wide.

Half Time 1-2

With Borough offering sustained pressure from the restart the Cranes first half lead lasted just four minutes when Gunn did well to battle to the right hand touchline before laying the ball off to Matty Parkin and White again arrived at the far post to head in the resulting cross.

A minute later Borough came inches from taking the lead when a corner was cleared only as far as Shaun Clarke whose well struck shot cannoned off the bar and goal line. However Borough did go in front on 63 minutes when Parkin sent over a low right wing cross into the area which was deflected by a defender into the path of Carl Marshall who picked his spot to find the net.

With Cranborne committing players forward, the game opened up and Borough had the best of the chances, Ben Truan forcing two saves from Loader in as many minutes, while substitute Alan Fooks teed up Herrington running in from the left, but his shot curled narrowly wide.

Borough finally made the game safe seven minutes from time when White sent Matt Bircumshaw clear on the left and he ran through to shoot past the advancing keeper.

Borough: Adam Nash, Matt Parkin, Tony White, Shaun Clarke, Sean Hebdon, Dan Herrington, Alex Gunn, Andy Barham, Carl Marshall, Ben Truan (Alan Fooks 70), Matt Bircumshaw. Unused subs: Scott Orchard, Dan Moore, Mark Vincent, Jamie Wilson.