Borough made their season
debut at home to promoted AFC Wimbledon in brilliant sunshine
on a wonderful summers evening. The Wimbledon supporters
turned up in numbers; as did the Eastbourne public. Simon
Johnson dropped to the bench with Dan Smith taking the
wide right position; this the only change from the Saturday
defeat at Wrexham. For the visitors Jon Main made a start.
Liam Enver-Marum Under Pressure
- Pic : David Bauckham
Boro started brightly
without testing James Pullen in the visitors goal but
'The Wombles' 1st corner on 4 minutes only resulted in
a weak looping header on goal easily gathered by Danny
Knowles. Liam Enver-Marum was beaten to an early cross
but Wimbledon broke quickly and from a right-wing free-kick
Chris Hussey bent a ball past the far post. A quick Boro
break saw Jamie Taylor denied a shot on target but a defensive
lapse almost let the visitors in at the other end on 9
minutes. There was a degree of 'rustiness' evident in
both sides, especially in short back-passes, but the opening
period of the game was excellent for the proverbial neutral
with half-chances for both sides and action swinging from
end to end.
On 19 minutes Pullens
looping punch from a deep right-wing Matt Crabb free-kick
was driven inches wide by Danny Brown. On 27 a strong
Dan Smith run down the right-wing, prompted by Ben Austin's
excellent interception, saw a low cross angled towards
Enver-Marum's head. Unfortunately the strikers flicked
header was wide but he combined well with Jamie Taylor
and Smith for another half-chance to drift past Pullens
post moments later.
On 31 minutes Duncan swung a right-wing corner across
the face of Boro's goal, no 'Womble' able to provide a
finishing touch. 2 minutes later Austin conceded another
corner as Wimbledon applied a short burst of pressure,
this time the left-wing delivery across the home 6 yard
box. Enver-Marum was again denied a clear run on goal
with a fine strong block tackle from Paul Lorraine, the
visitors skipper, and on 39 minutes the referee's assistant's
flag saved Boro as Wimbledon threatened to breach the
defensive line. Duncan swung a free-kick high and handsome
over the River End stand and Danny Knowles punched a left-wing
delivery, as the half drew to a close. In added time Matt
Crabb swung in a right-wing corner but 0-0 the score remained.
Jamie Taylor - Pic : David
Bauckham
Neither side made half-time
changes as both sides took to the field under a wonderful
Sussex sunset. On 49 minutes Boro opened their account
for the season with an absolute 'screamer'. Neil Jenkins
was fed in wide left and he struck a wonderful 25 yard
shot into the top right-hand corner giving Pullen no chance.
Knowles was forced to knock a looping shot over the bar
on 53 mins as the visitors responded. Duncan shot low
but weak on 58 minutes, Knowles gathering easily low to
his right.
The visitors made 2 quick
changes with Sam Hatton and Luke Moore introduced around
the hour mark and the home side were certainly forced
deep into their own half. A deep left wing cross just
eluded Lewis Taylor with Knowles grabbing late on 63 minutes.
'The Sports' rode their luck on 68 when a low cross from
the bye-line was deflected out and the Boro management
made a strategic change a minute later with Matt Smart
replacing Smith. Paul Armstrong's free-kick from the left-hand
angle of the 18 yard box was gathered low by Pullen after
Enver-Marum was fouled, the powerful No. 10 replaced by
Andy Atkin on 72 minutes.
Mr. Whitton continued
to confuse the Boro crowd with his decisions, every Boro
tackle and challenge seemingly a foul but if it creaked
occasionally the back 5 held firm. Jamie Taylor's quick
feet set him away on 79 minutes but he appeared in 2 minds
as his cross/shot evaded the goal and the advancing Atkin.
On 81 minutes Austin's cross was headed wide from 12 yards;
any attempt on goal from the angle difficult. His excellent
turn wrong footed the visitors on the edge of their own
area but he again failed to hit the target, the ball into
the car park. Knowles gathered another low right-cross
6 minutes from time, and moments later he held a long-range
Moore effort from 25 yards.
M-O-M Neil Jenkins - Pic
: David Bauckham
The 4th official awarded
5 extra minutes and the visitors threw all they could
at Boro in search of an equaliser but Knowles was never
really troubled and the home side held on for the win
in front of a large crowd. Both sides made errors and
the keepers were not often called upon to earn their wages.
Boro can, and will play better but it was probably appropriate
that the points were earned by such a fabulous strike.
Words : Lee Peskett
