Comforatble Senior Cup win boosts Borough's morale after testing week

Despite conceding an early penalty, Borough steadily wore down their very competent Ryman League opponents and by the end of the game they were scoring at will. The final 5-1 margin might quite seriously have been doubled – but more importantly after the Basingstoke defeat, Tommy’s men had restored their self-belief. Bridges featured former Sports striker Allan Tait among an experienced line-up.

And it was Bridges who took an 11th minute lead, Hakeem Adelakun converting a rather marginal penalty after keeper David Gregory collided with a full-pelt Mark Pulling. But before anyone got too excited, Ryan Worrall levelled on 23 minutes, also from the spot, after Elliott Romain – whose career began at Bridges – was tripped in the box.

And the Sports could easily have had a match-winning lead by half-time. Gavin McCallum’s corner hit a post and was somehow scrambled clear, and then Romain hammered a Sam Beale cross against the underside of the bar. For a while after the break Three Bridges built their defensive barriers, but they couldn’t hold out for ever. On 71 minutes Stone’s perfect long ball freed Pinney, who stroked home for 2-1, and then three goals in seven minutes sealed it. Haysman and McCallum each pounced on goalkeeping errors for easy finishes, and – fittingly – McCallum spiriting past three despairing defenders and brought down by the fourth, for Pinney to notch the final penalty.

Borough: Gregory; Stone, Khinda-John, Hamilton, Beale; Worrall (Baptista 80), Collier; McCallum, Lok (Haysman 49), Pinney, Romain (Street 80).