Match Reports 08/09

ST STEPHENS Borough, who had to settle for fourth place after holding second position for much of the season, finished on a winning note with their victory at Camelford.

They raced into a 2-0 lead with goals from Stuart Fort and Jamie Manuel before Alex Aherne pulled one back for Camelford before the interval.

Borough came out strongly in the second half with further goals from Stuart Fort, Nathan Holiday and manager Steve Brown, who was on target to celebrate his last game after six successful years in charge of the side.

Dave Cann and Mark Gusterson pulled back a couple of goals for Camelford, but Borough held for the win to round off their first season in the East Cornwall League.

Borough's last hopes of promotion were dashed when they lost 2-0 away to divisional champions Plymouth Parkway on Wednesday evening.

Brown admitted: "It was disappointing to miss out on second place, but we can take heart from a top four finish, which was a very good achievement for our first time in senior football."

This must win game for Borough saw it end in defeat, although with Bude being beaten by Elburton Borough can still come second if they win their last two matches.

Borough opened the scoring on 20 mintues when Andy Wright flicked on a free kick to Dave Wilkinson to slot home. With one minute left on the clock Callington were awarded thier first penalty of the match to go into the break one a piece. The second half saw Callington awarded another two penalties, both of which were rather suspect to say the least. Two goals from Andy Wright were not enough and Borough now have to find the strenght to beat the league champions Parkway and Camelford if they wish to gain promotion.

Borough made the worst possible start to the match conceeding a goal in the first two minutes. Borough slowly got back into the match and the next 30 mintues was fairly even but the sucker punch came 5 minutes before half time when United scored their second. The second half saw Borough struggle to get into the game and Saltash struck twice. Borough got their chance to get on the score sheet from the penalty spot. Andy Wright stepped up and converted the chance. Saltash scored again to make it 5-1 on the night and 6-1 on aggregate. The ynow meet Plymouth Parkway in the Final.

Borough took a depleted sqaud to St.Dominick for this crucial game. The first half was fairly even but it was Dominick who scored first when on 15 mintues Borough failed to deal with a cross and it was bundled into the net. The second half Borough increased the pressure on Dominick and got a deserved goal on 75 mintes when Marc Hosking unleashed an unstoppable right foot strike which when straight into the bottom corner. The last 15 mintues saw both goalkeepers make excellent saves to ensure no more gaols were scored. Tow points dropped or one gained, only time will tell.

Borough put in an excellent performance against the strong perimer league outfit. A crowd of 60+ people saw an terrific game of football with both teams playing at their best. The first half saw two possible penalty decisions, one for Borough when Dave Wilkinson was brought down but the penalty was not given and then United were awared a penalty for a seemingly good tackle. The resultant spot kick was hit over the bar. The second half again saw both sides pushing for the victory and it looked like it was heading for a nil nil draw when on 89 minutes a cross from the left saw Uniteds' forward free in the box who slotted home. Borough travel to Kimberley in two weeks needing to score at least a goal get back into the game.

Borough were made to work hard for the three points against a side who performed better than their league position would suggest. It was Napean who struck first on 7 minutes when a long ball over teh top of the Borough defence broke the off side trap and Mark Bird converted. Borough had a couple of chances in the first half with Stuart Fort hitting the post and Ben Philp failing to connect to a cross inside the box. The second half saw Borough step up and on 57 minutes Borough got the goal they deserved when Dave Wilkinson volleyed home from inside the box. Ten minutes later it was two when Marc Hosking back heeled for Ben Philp to connect perfectly and riffled the ball into the top corner. Jamie Manuel saw his 30 yard shot tipped over by the keeper but Borough failed to get their third. Borough now have four tricky away fixtures in their run in to try and hang onto the second spot which they have occupied for 4 months.

Borough went into the match missing key players Al Sinclair, Tom Clark and Max Parfitt but that can be no excuse for the performance of the Borough players. With the promotion race hotting up every fixtures needs to be played as a cup final and in this match one team played in that spirit and that was Polperro. Against a much improved side Borough failed to assert themselves on the game and poor defending 20 minutes into the match saw Polperro take the lead. The second half saw Borough have more pocession but they failed to create any real changes. With 20 minutes left on the clock Borough failed to defend a freekick which was easily headed into the net. Borough's best chance came 10 mintues from time when Stuart Fort turned two defenders pulled the ball onto his left foot, pulled the trigger but failed to hit the target.

With five matches to go Borough need to get back to winning ways and put in a run that sees them getting a minimum of 12 points.

Borough went into the game knowing that they desperately needed a win to stay ahead of the promotion pack. Blazey first team had no fixture so it was expected that they would field several first team players, and they did not disappoint. Borough struggled to get into the game and Blazey looked the more likely team to open the scoring but the Borough defence held way with a bit of luck and some poor finishing. The opening came on the half hour mark when Ben Philp lofted a free kick high to the far post. It looked a comfortable catch for the keeper but he fumbled the ball and Alex Haste pounced to make it one nil at the interval. Borough needed a much improved performance in the second half if they were to have any chance of keeping their lead. Straight from the kick off Borough let them know their intent as Tom Clark forced the keeper to parry his shot from the centre circle over his bar. Borough looked a changed team in the second half as Blazey tired and Borough found gaps in their defence. The second came on 60 minutes when Ben Philp picked the ball up 35 yards out set himself up and drove the ball from 30 yards. The keeper got a hand to it but it hit the bottom of the post and went in. The last thirty minutes there was only one team likely to score and that was Borough. Borough could have score three or four more goals as Hosking missed a header, Haste failed to hit hte target from 8 yards and Philps missed a one on one. An excellent result for Borough who now need to take this victory and go on a winning streak if they want to gain automatic promotion.

it was Borough who had the better of the first thirty minutes of this six pointer with Steve Bishop and Tom Clark both coming close to opening the score. Stuart Fort latching onto an Andy Wright cross on 35 minutes to open the scoring from close rang. Roche started to get into the match for the final 15 minutes and but for Dave Greene who made a couple of excellent saves to could have gone into the interval level. As it was it was Borough who went into the break with a single goal advantage. The second half saw Roche draw level within 6 minutes of the restart as Borough failed to deal with a cross from the right which was volley home. Both teams were chasing the victory but it was Borough who had the better chances with Andy Wright, Dave Wilkinson, Stuart Fort and Tom Clark all having good chances to put Borough ahead. In the end it was Roche who welcomed the final whistle more than Borough as there only looked like there was going to be one winner. Borough now need to get back to winning ways but face a tricky away trip to St.Blazey next weekend.

Borough started the better team in this well fought match. Borough were able to find space to pass the ball around and nearly went one up with an excellent strike from Tom Clark which was saved by Liftons keeper. Borough continued to try and find an opening and eventually it came on 35 minutes when Andy Wright latched onto a through ball and put the ball past the keeper. Borough just needed to defend for the remainder of the half but with thrity seconds to go they failed to deal with a Lifton attack and clear the cross and it was level at half time. Borough started the better team again and regained the lead within five minutes of the restart as Stuart Fort scored from close range. Lifton continued to fire long balls for the attackers to chase and they always loked likely to get a goal back. The goal came from the penalty spot. With the game level again the next goal would be crucial. It was Lifton who seemed to up their gcame as indiscipline creeped into the Borough team with no less then 4 players shown the yellow card. Lifton went ahead for the first time in the match when Borough failed to deal with a long throw into hte box. With 15 minutes remaining Max Pariftt was sent off for pushing a player and with Borough down to ten men it was mission impossible as Lifton sealed the victory with their forth direct from a freekick.

Borough knew the return fixture with Bude was going to be a close match after Borough only managed to come away with a point when they travelled to Bude. Borough had the better of the first half and had the perfect start when on 9 minutes Stuart Fort beat two defenders an inside the box and was fouled. Andy Wright converted the resulting penalty. Twenty minutes later Borough doubled their lead when Ben Philp unleashed from twenty yards. The ball found its way to the back off the net after deflecting off Dave Wilkinson. Borough's defence stood firm against the excellent strike force of Bude and it looked like they would take their two goal lead into the interval but three minutes into injury time Borough lost pocession in midfield and Tommy Statton converted the cross from the right to change both teams half time talk. The second half was far more even with Bude chasing the game to find the equaliser but it was Borough who regained their two goal advantage five minuts after the restart when Ben Philp played a long ball over the Bude defence for Stuart Fort to run onto and neatly lob the keeper. Borough's defence road their luck a little as Bude missed a great chance to grab a goal back. On 77 minutes Bude goal the goal they probably deserved as Borough failed to clear the ball and this time it was Billy Hopgroft who got on the end of the cross from the right. It seemed like Borough were going to be in for a tough last 10 minutes or so but Borough hit back within 5 mintues when Tom Clark played in Dave Wilkinson to score to make it 4-2. This was an excellent match played by two good footballing teams and on the day Borough were worthy of this vital victory.

Borough travelled to St.Columb with five players missing from the squad and were forced to suffle the side around slightly. On a heavy pitch Borough failed to get into their normal passing game and too many passes in the final third failed to find their target. The break through came on the half hour mark when Marc Hosking took a corner and it flew past the stranded keeper over the defenders heads and straight into the back of the net. Dave Wilkinson seemed to get a slight touch on the ball as it past over the goal line but the goal was accredited to Hosking. The second half saw the pitch cut up even more and it was St.Columb who had the best chance in the opening exchanges. Borough then began to apply the pressure and failed to convert a couple of chances. The game was over when on 75 minutes Will Swales won a tackle on the half way line and was fouled but the ref wisely played advantage and the ball went to Max Parfitt who put in an excellent cross for Andy Wright to head home. Major had to play the final 15 minutes with only 10 players as the foul on Swales saw the player sent off. Borough had the change to score in the closing minutes with Hosking coming closest.

Not the best performance by Borough but on a heavy pitch and the team playing for the first time on grass in 2009 the 3 points were well deserved.

St.Stephens Borough 5 v 2 Plymstock United (Supplementary Cup Quarter final)

Borough made the perfect start to the match when on 5 minutes Marc Hoskings crossed for Andy Wright to header over the standing keeper. Ten minutes later while the Plymstock players were complaining to the referee that a thrown should have gone their way Steve Bishop throw the ball to Dave Mills who ran 20 yards with the ball and shot straight past the keeper. On 25 minutes it was three when Hoskings set up Stuart Fort who took on a defender and slotted it past the keeper. Plymstock continued to battle for every ball and on the half hour mark they were rewarded wen they scored direct from a freekick 25 yards out. Just before half time Borough regained their 3 goal advantage when this time Fort set up Marc Hoskings who drove the ball from 30 yards straight into the top corner of the net. The second half was more even with both teams playing attacking football. It was Plymstock who struck first on 51 minutes when Borough failed to deal with a cross and they slotted the ball past Dave Greene. Less than five minutes later Borough struck back as Dave Miles controlled the ball cross it from the left to Marc Hoskings who passed to Dave Wilkinson who control and turned from close range to score. The remaining 35 mintues of the of the match so chances for both teams but it was Borough who were more clinical in front of goal.

Borough went into the match missing three of the starting eleven that knocked out St.Blazey and they knew they would have to play out of their skins to get anything out of the game. Borough had the worse possible start conceeding a goal within five minutes. Borough started to get into the match and when Stuart Fort played through Dave Wilkinson is looked like Borough would drwa level but Wilkinson deflected of a Callington player. However from the resulting corner Wilkinson scored the goal of the game a right foot volley to make it 1-1. Borough didn't hold onto the score line for long when five minutes later Andy Wright got caught in pocession and Callington scored with a shot from distance. With two minutes left before the interval Fort lost pocession Nathan Holliday fouled on the edge of the box and Callington went into the interval 3-1 up. The second half was much like the first with Callington showing their quality against an underperforming Borough team. Despite some excellent saves by young Tom Hammett in goal Callington scored two more to make it 5-1.

Borough were not at their best today but considering this was their first outing in the Senior cup they can certianly hold their head up high and be proud of their cup run this season.

This was the first time that the two former Duchy League teams have met as senior clubs and the honors went to Borough. Borough had the perfect start when on 3 minutes Dave Miles intercepted the ball passed to Stuart Fort who set up Dave Wilkinson to score. Ten minutes later Tom Clark hammered home an unstopable freekick from 35 yards out. The game was all but over on 37 minutes when Dave Wilkinson set up Stuart Fort who chipped the ball over the keepers head to make it 3-0 going into the interval. The second half was again fairly even although Borough created the better chances. Borough extended their lead on 67 minutes when Tom Clark picked the ball up in open play and again hit a powerdriver from a full 30 yards which sailed into the top corner. Borough defence stood firm all game and it loked like they were going to be rewarded with a clean sheet until 5 minutes before time Will Swales was adjudged to have pulled the shirt of Dominick forward Lee Maddocks who converted the penalty kick.

As always this was an excellent competitive match but Borough showed a little more quality in front of goal to deserve the victory.

It was a bitterly cold windy afternoon at Saltmill but that did not deter Borough playing football. Plymstock showed early promise but it was Borough who struck first. 15 minutes into the game Marc Hosking crossed the ball from the right the goalie failed to hold onto and dropped at the feet of top goal scorer Dave Wilkinson who slotted home from 6 yards out. Twio minutes later Hosking got his own goal. Spotting the keeper off his line from 35 yards out he neatly lobbed the ball into the back of the net. Just before the half hour mark it was all over when Andy Wright struck a 20 yards free kick with his left foot. It took a slight deflection off the wall and found its way iinto the back of the net. With the wind behind Borough in the second half it looked at half time that Borough would go on to double their score but some excellent defending and several missed opportunities meant the score line remained the same. A good victory for Borough to keep them in second spot.

THREE goals in the first seven minutes put Borough on course for a win that keeps leaders Parkway in sight.

Ben Philp put them ahead in the first minute and Stuart Fort notched Borough's next two goals.

Mark Bird pulled a goal back for Nanpean, but in the last minute of the half Fort completed his hat-trick.

Dave Wilkinson made the game safe for Borough in the 81st minute when he slotted home a Marc

Borough followed up their terrific win against St.Blazey with an excellent performance against a strong Callington team who travelled to Saltmill eager to get three points. It was Borough who struck first on 7 minutes when David Miles crossed from the left for Marc Hosking to volley home with his left foot. Callington drew level 5 minutes later when Dan Pethick ran onto a long pass and just managed to nip the ball past Tom Hemmett. Borough took the lead again just before teh interval when Dave Wilkinson headed back an Andy Wright corner for Stuart Fort to score from close range. The opening five minutes of the first half saw two contoversal goals. Firstly Borugh were awarded a free kick just outside the box when the referee blew up because he thought the Callington keeper handled the ball outside the box from his kick. Up stepped Dan Fad who curled the ball straight into the top corner. Sixty second later it was Borough's turn to remonstrate with the referee when Chris Truscott scored and the referee ignored the linesman flag. borough started to take control of the game and on 60 minutes the game wa put beyond doubt when Dan Fad did a one two with Stuart Fort and struck a rocket into the net. An excellent victory to keep Borough in second spot.

St.Blazey got their excuses in early for this fixture and they were forced to re-use every single one of them as Borough booked themselves into the next round draw beating Blazey 3-2. This fixture was no doubt the biggest fixtue in Boroughs short 10 year history playing a team which has been established for over a century. Borough started lively with Stuart Fort unleashing in the first minute. However it was Blazey who struck first when Borough failed to clear a cross and Blazey converted on 10 minutes. Borough were more than holding their own and fully deserved to draw level when on 20 minutes Tom Clark struck a 40 yard free kick which the keeper failed to hold and Andy Wright struck home. Borough then took the lead on 28 minutes as Marc Hosking took on the defence and squared a ball for Dave Wilkinson to slot home from close range. Borough continued to look the better team and Stuart Fort nearly made it three as he beat 3 players and shot past the keeper only to see the ball bounce off the up right. Fort came close again two minutes later but this time the keeper saved. Borough came out for the second half determined to put in a performance like the first but with only 2 minutes on the clock Blazey drew level. Borough continued to defend well keeping the Blazey front line quiet. With 86 minutes gone Borough struck. Dave Wilkinson headed the ball and Alex Haste found himself with space 6 yards out and hammered home to give Borough a well deserved historic win.

The talk before the game was all about the 3G pitch but the better team won on the day and the pitch didn't come into it. The biggest crowd of the season (100 plus) at Saltmill saw an excellent game of football doing the Club and the East Cornwall Premier League Division One proud!

Borough suffered their first defeat in eight matches as they went down two nil to bottom of the league Holsworthy. For the first time this season Borough had to play on a heavy, rain socked, uneven pitch and they did not adapt well. The first half saw Borough have 90% of the ball but everytime it seemed that they broke the Holsworthy defence the linesman flag went up and despite putting the ball in the Holsworthy net on more than one occasion they failed to register a goal. Holsworthy struck with 5 minutes to go to the interval when their only attack of the game saw them score. The second half was more even and Borough had several opportunities to score but failed to convert. First Stuart Fort hammered the ball over the bar from 4 yards out, then Alex Haste missed a one on one opportunity and finally Dave Wilkinson failed to get onto a Haste cross as he smashed into the post. With twenty minutes left on the clock with Borough pushing forward Holsworthy broke free and made it two nil. A performance the Borough players and mangement will want to forget as they dropped three vital points in their chase for promotion.

Borough were after revenge following a four nil defeat at Haye Road earlier in the season and started the better team. Borough struck on 15 minutes when Alex Haste crossed from the right for Dave Wilkinson to follow in from two yards out. Elburton started to get into the game and took control for the last twenty minutes. They were rewarded on 40 minutes when Glen Stupples headed home from a corner. The second half saw both teams hit the woodwork and Elburton commit players forward in search of the winner. However it was Borough who found the back of the net when a cross from Dave Wilkinson found subsitute Dave Miles in the box who slide home from close range. With two minutes left on the clock Stuart Fort feed in Ben Philp who lobbed the keeper from 35 yards out to seal all three points.

Roche 2 v St Stephens Borough 3

Borough were delighted to return from Roche with all three points from an excellent game of football played in bitterly cold conditions.

Borough took the lead in the sixth minute when the influential Marc Hosking played in Alex Haste who finished well.

The lead lasted only four minutes when the unmarked Scott Hill fired a right wing cross passed Dave Greene in the Borough goal.

The visitors regained the lead with a minute of the half remaining. A short corner was played to Hosking who cleverly beat his man before crossing to the far post where Dave Wilkinson bravely headed home.

On 68 minutes the home side were level again when Greene came out to clear a through ball, completely missed his kick and Shaun Hambley capitalised on the error to slot the ball into an empty net.

It was left to Andy Wright rescue his 'keeper as two minutes later his free kick from the Borough right was dummied by Haste and ended up in the far corner of the net to earn Borough all three points.

Boro gained a well deserved point away to Bude. Bude fielded a young quick team. Bude took the lead in the 7th minute when a Nathan Holliday clearance only managed to find a Bude player 30 yards out who struck an unstoppable shot into the top corner. The borough defence came under continued attack as Bude hit the cross bar twice and Jamie manuel cleared the ball off the line. While Bude had the better of the first half the last fifteen minutes saw Borough get back into the game with Dave Wilkinson coming closest asa he saw his shot hit the cross bar. The second half was a more even affair with both teams having chances to score. The best chances for Borough fell to Dave Wilkinson and Stuart Fort. The goal for Borough had some luck attached to it as Alex Haste struck the ball into the area from the corner flag and it was deflected into the net by a Bude defender. Borough were more than worthy of the point and will see this as a point gained rather than two dropped.

Borough started the better team as two of last years top Junior teams battled it out for a place in round two of the senior cup. For forty minutes Borough dominated without really creating any clear opening for a shot on goal. They were dealt a sucker punch when on forty minutes Borough failed to defend a free kick and they went into the interval one nil down. The second half saw Borough start well and were denied a clear penalty as a Portreath defender seemed to palm the ball away with both hands as he lay on the six yard box. Portreath went up the other end and to add insult to injury they made it two 8 minutes into the second half. The game changed within a five minute spell as Borough started to get the ball into the Portreath penalty area at every opportunity. The first goal came from Dave Wilkinson on 56 minutes as he converted a cross from 6 yards out. Two minutes later he made it two as again Portreath failed to clear and he found the back of the net from close range. Three minutes later it was three as Daniel Thompson played the ball into the box and Stuart Fort got on the end. Borough continued to creat opporunities with Dave Wilkinson just missing out on his hat-trick as he shot narrowly wide following an excellent run, Andy Wright narrowly headed over a superb Marc Hosking Cross and Ben Philp 35 yard shot just crept over the bar. Borough held out for the victory with was well deserved. The game was played in an excellent spirit and the Portreath management team conceeded Borough were the better team on the day. Borough now need to wait for the 2nd round draw to see who they face.

St Stephens Borough took the lead as early as the second minute of the game as an Andy Wright free kick hit the bar and Steve Newton volleyed home from just inside the penalty area.

The remainder of the half remained goalless with both sides having chances although the visitors seldom toubled 17 year old Tom Hemmett who performed well in the Borough goal on his debut.

Borough extended their lead within minutes of the restart as Marc Hosking broke from the right, knocked the ball over the Polperro keeper and stroked the ball home.

The visitors replied five minutes later as their captain David Gilbert found space in the home side's penalty area to fire home.This goal only seemed to inspire Borough who, with Max Parfitt excelling on his debut in the middle of the defence, proceeded to dominate proceedings.

With half an hour left to play Dave Wilkinson set up Newton to curl home his second and Borough's third.

Not to be left out, three minutes later Wilkinson latched onto a through ball to get himself on the score sheet.

It took another twenty minutes before the next goal game as Wilkinson crossed for substitute Alex Haste to score from close range.

Two minutes later Wilkinson got on the end of an Andy Wright pass to score his second and Borough's sixth.

There was still time for Matt McDonough to score Polperro's second in the dying seconds of the game before the final whistle blew.

This was another excellent performance & victory for St Stephens Borough,Saturday, 27th September 2008

ECPL Division 1 side St Stephens Borough cruised into next round of the Cornwall Senior Cup with this comprehensive win over Premier Division Biscovey at Saltmill Park.

Two Andy Wright goals put them ahead, the first a header from Ben Philp's cross, the other a penalty, before Dave Wilkinson made it three after Stuart Fort had headed it on to his fellow striker.

Dane Jackson pulled one back for the visitors two minutes before halftime but any hopes they had of a comeback were extinguished ten minutes into the second period as Wilkinson set up Fort for Borough's fourth.

Five minutes later Philp spotted the keeper of his line & hit the ball over his head from fully 35 yards out.

Wright got his hat trick from an Alex Haste cross, Wilkinson fired home his second from 30 yards and with ten minutes remaining Haste completed the scoring from close range.

St Stephens Borough returned to winning ways but they twice gifted Camelford the lead before running out winners by the odd goal in seven.

The visitors took the lead as early as the 6th minute when the Borough defence failed to clear and Jake Dickenson scored.

Borough were level on the half hour mark when Jamie Manuel scored from Andy Wright's free kick but it only took Camelford four minutes to restore their lead as Dickenson found himself through with a one-on-one with Borough 'keeper Dave Greene and slipped the ball home.

With barely a minute to go before half time John Busher crossed from the left and Andy Wright restored parity at the second attempt.

Borough upped their game in the second half and Dave Wilkinson got on the end of a Will Swales through ball to put Borough ahead for the first time.

Wilkinson, just back from suspension, repeated the trick in the 75th minute, this time finishing off a Stuart Fort pass.

With three minutes on the clock Tom Marks scored Camelford's third after Greene had dropped a hopeful ball into the box but Borough saw out the final minutes to record a 4-3 victory.

Borough gave starts to two new signing in the evening fixture against Plymstock, Dean Easterbrook in defence and Thomas Chaney in midfield. Borough started the match with ten men due to the early kick of Tom Clark struggled to get to the pitch for the start of the match. Ten minutes into the game it became eleven a-side. The exchanges were fairly even in the first quarter but it was Plymstock you opened the scoring as they crossed a ball into the box from the right and unfortunately for new signing Easterbrook he turned the ball into his own net. But for some last ditch tackles by Nathan Holliday and Dean Easterbrook the half time margin could have been greater. Borough had not played well in the first half strugglying to keep pocession of the ball. The second half could not have started worse for Borough as Holliday took a throw-in while Dave Greene was still not in his goal. The ball came free and Plymstock extended their lead. With thirty minutes to go Borough suddenly stepped up a gear and a five minute spell saw the game trun. First Stuart Fort found space on the right and from just outside the box lifted the ball over the keepers head. A minute later Tom Clark played the ball through to Marc Hoskings who threaded the ball through to Fort for his second. Plymstock heads went down and three minutes later Andy Wright crossed from the right and James Tripp converted on the far post. Borough now took control of the game and on 73 minutes Andy Wright crossed from the right again this time finding Marc Hoskings who headed home to make it 4-2. Paul Frost came off the bench for his first experience at senior football and was involved in Borough's fifth as he played Tripp in on the right who crossed for Fort to get his hat-trick. Borough showed a great team spirit to come back from 2-0 down but it is anyones guess what the score would have been if Borough had decided to play for 90 minutes rather than the 30 minutes they did.

Borough faced St.Columb missing strikers Stuart Fort and Dave Wilkinson and paired up Alex Haste for his first start of the season with Andy Wright. St.Columb had the chance to take the lead in the first two minutes of the match with Steve Rudd hitting the post and another free kick flying just over the bar. This seemed to shock Borough into action and Pete Jefford found Andy Wright on the edge of the box who turned and struck the ball over the keepers head. Jefford then found Haste unmarked and he headed home from close range from the corner. Within a minute Haste added a second and on 24 minutes he had his hat-trick. Andy Wright then got his second of the game as again Jefford provided the perfect cross for Wright to finish and Borough went into the interval 5-0 up. The second half saw the goals keep coming and Mark Hoskings got of the mark from a Jefford corner. Alex Haste then got his fifth of the game making the tally seven. St.Columb then got on the score sheet when Adrian Hawkins converted a cross from the right wing. Haste then turned provider has he headed Hoskings in for his second. With four minutes left on the clock Wright got his hat-trick giving Borough their highest win in 5 seasons.

Borough travelled to Haye Road knowing it was going to be a tough game, with no less than 6 players missing from their squad and facing a young quick team. The first quarter of the game was even with both teams having early chances to take the lead. Marc Hosking founf himslef through on goal with just the keeper to beat but shot side and Stuart Fort headed onto the bar. Dave Wilkinson and Stuart Fort always look a threat up front as they troubled the Elburton defence but it was Elburton who opened the scoring with some neat football down the left. With five minutes before the interval they struck again. The second half saw Elburton take more control over the game as Borough started to feel the heat. Marc Hoskings and James Tripp both sustained injured early in the second half and Borough were forced to shuffle their team. Dave Greene made some excellent saves to keep Borough in the match but it was only a matter of time before Elburton sealed the 3 points with 20 minutes left on the clock. They struck again with 10 minutes to go and the final whistle couldn't come soon enough for Borough.

Borough lose Dave Wilkinson, Stuart Fort and potentially Nathan Holliday for next weeks fixture against St.Columb. There are also injury concerns over Hoskings and Tripp. Borough need to strenghten their squad and are aiming to make 3 or 4 more signings this week.

Borough can feel pleased about their start to the season with their second victory in their first three games.

Lifton took time to settle and were 2-0 down in 28 minutes. Stuart Fort gave the hosts a ninth minute lead after good work down the left between Andy Wright and Jamie Manuel.

Lifton hit back within a minute of the restart with a Kevin Hatch header but within 4 minutes Wright had restored Borough's two goal advantage with a good shot.

With 10 minutes remaining Scott Bloomfield scored to give Lifton hope but this was dashed almost on the final whistle as Dave Wilkinson held off two challenges to make the game safe & see Borough home with a 4-2 victory.

Borough's euphoria at winning their first ever East Cornwall League match was quickly forgotten with this heavy defeat against a side already looking like promotion contenders.

Parkway had hammered Camelford 7-1 on the Saturday and quickly set about clinching their second victory.

Goals from Kirk Smith, Dean Smith & Ross Avery opened up a 3 goal lead for Parkway before Dave Wilkinson pulled one back for Borough.

Avery and Dean Smith scored again for Parkway before Matt Blackmore slammed the ball home from 35 yards to end the scoring and wrap up a 6-1 victory for the Plymouth side.

Borough started life in senior football well collecting all three points from visiting Holsworthy but they were made hard to work for them. Borough nearly opened the scoring within 3 minutes when Andy Wright's 25 yard free kick hit the foot of the post and bounced out. Borough continued to create more opportunities but the Holsworthy goal lived a charmed life as time after time chances went begging. First Marc Hosking was played through with just the goalkeeper to beat and pulled his shot wide, then moments later Nathan Holliday played a perfect through ball to Daniel Thompson on the far post who missed the target from close range. Twenty minutes into the game Holsworthy had a corner and Gareth Martin was left unmarked on the far post to head home. Ten minutes later Borough again hit the woodwork this time from a free kick taken by Tom Clarke. This time the bounced favoured Borough as it came straight back to Clarke who hammered home. It seemed that the teams would go in level at the interval but with only 2 minutes to go Holsworthy broke down the right and Shane Dillins took his chance well. The second half saw Holsworthy increase their lead within 5 minutes as Dillin followed up his own shot which hit the post to slot home. Borough never gave up the fight and were rewarded ten minutes later when Dave Wilkinson headed home a Nathan Holliday header. Holliday nearly made it level a couple minutes later but again his shot rebounded off the cross bar. With 15 minutes left on the clock Andy headed home the equaliser and with only 2 minutes to go neat play down the left ended with a pinpoint cross from Wright who found Wilkinson free on the six yard box to head home. Holsworthy had three good chances and scored three goals, Borough created nine or ten good chances which on another day would have gone in. Holsworthy were disappointed to not come away with at least a point but over the 90minutes Borough created enough chances to feel deserving of all three points.

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