Poole Borough Football Club
Season 2007/08

THE SEASON

Results, Reports & Fixtures

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Appearances

Scorers

Borough Line-up
1. Elliott Broome n 67
2. Carl Griffin
3. Matt Morris
4. Luke Crutcher
5. Ken Strong
6. Adam Watson (Harding 65)
7. John Bates
8. Andy Barham
9. Kieran Campbell (Mulvey 65)
10. Lee Diaper
11. Rimmell Williams n 76 (Porter 89)

Substitutes
Paul Harding (for Watson 65)
Kieran Mulvey (for Campbell 65)
Tim Porter (for Williams 89)

Scorers

Conditions
Dry, bright and sunny

Borough Colours
Gold Shirts with Black Trim, Red Shorts & Black Socks

Bridport Colours
Red Shirts, Black Shorts and Red Socks

Direction of Play
Borough attacked Club House end first half

Officials
Referee: Mr P. Watson
Assistants:Mr P. Mason & Various Club Officials

	Bridport Reserves (1) 1,
	Poole Borough (2) 4.

Dorset Premier League
Saturday 9th February 2008

Borough ended a run of four straight defeats following victory at St. Mary's Field which provided caretaker manager Giles Kilshawe with a deserved win prior to handing over the reigns to Paul Harding, with Lee Diaper scoring all four goals. However the game was in the balance mid way through the second half when Borough keeper Elliott Broome was given a straight red card for impeding an opponent outside the area, but the Hornets weathered the resulting onslaught from the opposition before making the game safe.

The game saw a number of milestones chalked up as Diaper's four goals saw him equal the club scoring record, while Adam Watson impressed in his first start for Borough, having just become eligible to play in the DPL after turning 16 and Andy Barham completed his 100th appearance for the Hornets.

Borough dominated the early exchanges and Diaper came close after only four minutes when he broke through the home defence, but his final shot was off target. A minute later a powerful drive by Rimmell Williams from wide on the left was diverted wide by the home keeper.

The Bridport gloveman denied Williams again on 8 minutes from a shot just outside the area, while two minutes later Watson was sent through by Barham, but the keeper was again out quickly to block the chance.

Borough though finally took the lead on 15 minutes when a good interchange between Watson and Carl Griffin saw Griffin make some space down the right before squaring to Diaper who rifled a low shot just inside the post from 20 yards out. Diaper was in action again a minute later when he cut in from the by-line before teeing up Williams, but the final shot went wide.

However, against the run of play, the Bees drew level on 25 minutes with their first meaningful attack, as a deep cross from the left was laid back across goal, picking out Adam Stordy who steered the ball home from 10 yards out.

Borough though continued to dominate and on 31 minutes Barham sent Diaper into space but the home gloveman was out quickly to block with his legs while on 43 minutes Williams lifted a high ball into the box from the left, which cannoned off the crossbar before being collected by a grateful keeper.

On the stroke of half time Bridport came close to taking the lead after a fine angled pass picked out a striker running through, but Matt Morris did well to recover and get a foot in to hook the ball clear and as luck would have it Borough's immediate counter attack saw Barham again send Diaper through behind the home defence and this time he skilfully took the ball past the keeper before slotting into an empty net.

Half time 1-2

As good as Borough were in the first half, the tables were dramatically turned after the break with the home side making the majority of the play leaving the Hornets to defend desperately at times.

Within minutes of the restart, Broome had to make a fine double save to deny the Bees after the Hornets defence was left flat footed following a quickly taken free kick while on 61 minutes the Borough keeper again did well to block a close range shot before seeing the home striker put the rebound wide.

Borough made a double substitution on 65 minutes as they looked to stamp some authority back on the game, but within two minutes were down to 10 men as despite the referee originally playing on after Broome had blocked a chance with his body outside the area, he was called back by his linesman and subsequently sent the Borough keeper off for a foul on a home striker which occurred while making the block. Luke Crutcher stepped up to replace Broome between the sticks, and was not tested immediately as the resulting free kick from just outside the area sailed over the bar.

With Bridport now sensing the chance to pick up their first win in ten starts, the Borough defence were placed under further pressure, and on 78 minutes a home forward broke through the Hornets back line but Crutcher stood his ground and smothered the resulting shot. Two minutes later, a low cross from the left beat Crutcher, but Barham got in a strong tackle to deny a home forward and within a minute Crutcher was again in action, making a superb flying save to push a long range effort past the post.

Barham was called upon to make another telling interception on the edge of the Borough area as it looked like the visitors would struggle to hold out, but remarkably on 83 minutes the Hornets increased their lead when Barham sent Diaper through on the right and he coolly slotted past the keeper for his hat-trick.

Bridport now sensed there was no way back and Diaper was denied again by the keepers legs on 86 minutes before in injury time substitute Tim Porter battled well to win the ball from a home defender and rolled a pass through to the unmarked Diaper to run through and finish. There was still time for Diaper to test the keeper twice more as he looked for a record breaking fifth goal but Borough still had much to celebrate at the final whistle.