BYFL Cup 1st Round

Christchurch v Bournemouth Electric

Match Result: 6 - 4 (aet)


Bournemouth Electric had been relegated last season but having won 4 out of 4 games this season scoring 39 goals we were not underestimating them. The wind played quite a part in this game. In the first half it was to our advantage and we led 3 nil and then 4 - 1 at half time.

The second half was completely different and they got it back to 4 all and missed a penalty.

This was the first game Bubba had played for us this season and his quality told when he scored two in extra time.

Goal scorers
Olly Balmer
Oliver Davis 2
Harry Chapman
Nathanial Tamlyn 2

Moordown v Christchurch

Match Result: 3 - 5

Goal Scorers: Harry Chapman, Olly Balmer (3), Oliver Davis


Moordown were promoted last season and a lot of our players know a lot of their players so we were conscious playground bragging rights were at stake here. Any likelihood of us underestimating them was wiped out in the first minute when their Sam outpaced our defence and ran in on Dec who saved his first shot but couldn't prevent the follow-up. No clean sheet today then! For the next ten minutes we created chance after chance but a combination of good goalkeeping and strong defending kept us out until Harry scored in the 12th minutes. We assumed that would be it and we'd go on and score 3 or 4 before halftime but instead they took the lead again in the 23rd minute when we didn't; clear from a corner and a game of pin ball led to the goal looping into our goal.

In the second half we created more chances and eventually after a ball Ben won in the middle of the pitch was sent forward to Olly who lobbed the keeper. This was closely followed by a second from Olly as we took the lead - at last!! Olly completed his hat trick with a header from the corner and at this stage we thought that would be that but the referee then gave a soft free kick which their player lobbed Dec to make it 4 - 3 and set up a potentially nervous 5 minutes had Oliver not scored a spectacular long range 5th.

We were pleased to have won a difficult match but we also know that it was made more difficult by some strange decisions being made on the pitch!

Christchurch v Highcliffe Hawks

Match Result: 3 - 0

Goal Scorers: Ethan (2), Brandon

Despite beating them 7 - 2 away and 8 - 2 at home last season the match
reports of those two games mentioned the fact how both scorelines
flattered us - and in both games we'd gone a goal behind. We were aware
of their pace and were also expecting a very physical game.

The first half was quite even. We had more possession; passed well and
created chances which we didn't take but they probably created the best
two chances of the half.

Second half we started much better and Ethan headed an early corner
which the 'keeper parried and Ethan was first to react and stab the ball
home. Having gone years not scoring from corners all of a sudden we've
developed the habit. Ten minutes later a header direct from a corner
again from Ethan went straight in.

At this point the game was won and 5 minutes before the end Brandon
headed in from a cross by Oliver Davis.

Although not the goal-fest of last season we were very pleased with the
clean sheet!

Boscombe Albion v Christchurch

Match Result: 1 - 5

Goal Scorers: Oliver Davis (2), Brandon Kotkowski (2), Olly Balmer

This was a midweek game against newly promoted Boscombe. I wasn't at
the match but the consensus view seems to be we had a poor first ten
minutes but then improved and played better than we had on Sunday. We
were three nil up at half time and went on to be 5 - 1 winners.
Everyone said how well Brandon played in right midfield.

Christchurch v Bournemouth Sports

Match Result: 4 - 2

Goal Scorers: Oliver Davis, Harry Chapman, Drew Smith, Ethan Maddocks


The first game of a new season and we were right to be expecting a tough game against the ex Canon Colts side who we'd played twice in the last few weeks of last season. This was also our first 'home' game at Chapel Gate which is also the home venue of Bournemouth Sports.

After a real wake-up call in our only pre-season friendly on Wednesday we started reasonably well. Rain in the morning and right up to kick off had made the surface very slippery but we tried to pass and it was really our defence who struggled with balls skidding off the wet surface. We created chances and had several corners. About 20 minutes in and a goal kick from Dec fell straight to an opposition player who passed to a free player who scored. One nil down and the pressure on.

We continued to pile forward but we always seemed second to the ball. Then literally seconds before half time Oliver Davis hit one of his specials and that was one all.

We played much, much better in the second half. Suddenly we were first to the ball. George and Ethan began to control the middle we scored three goals in the first 15 minutes; first Harry, then a great solo run and shot from Drew and finally a header from a corner (yes - we have actually scored a goal from a corner) from Ethan.

Bournemouth added a consolation goal towards the end but we were the only winners by then.

It would be very easy to be critical, especially of our first half performance, but Bournemouth Sports won't lose many games this season and come the end of the season I think we'll look back on this as a big win!