1.     Chris Corbin
2.     Shaun Bryant
3.     Leroy Corbin (c)
4.     Lee Cobb
5.     Gary Fripp
6.     Jamie Wilson
7.     Shaun Brazier
8.     Dan Blackburn
9.     Dan Manual
10.   Bradley Asagba 
11.   Paul Lines 


Branksome Railway Hotel Man Of The Match: Daniel Blackburn

Branksome Recreation Ground
Bournemouth Premier League 
10th September 2006

The Railway started off the league campaign with a 3-1 loss to Title contenders Crown.

The Railway still missing a few players welcomed back Lee Cobb and Jamie Wilson into side and reverted back to a more familiar 3-5-2 formation

After a very even first 20 minutes, the Railway open scoring after good work from Paul Lines down the left flank who then crossed sparking a goalmouth scramble in which Shaun Brazier managed to finish by tapping home at the far post.

However the lead was short lived as almost immediately Crown equalised from the spot, after Lines brought down a forward in the box. The Penalty was duly dispatched despite the best efforts of Corbin in goal.  Before long Crown took the lead after some woeful Railway defending, failing to deal with the long ball in to channels allowing a Crown player to cross into box which was converted at the far post.

The second half saw an improved Railway performance and there times when it looked like they might get back into the game. Some good passing play from first Manual then Blackburn, Asagba and Wilson nearly created something for the home team. But despite the lions share of possession the Railway didn’t really create many clear-cut opportunities. And so against the run of play Crown extended there lead, a quick counter attack saw a Crown forward pick up the ball on the left flank and dance past 4 Railway half challenges before rifling home from 16 yards giving Corbin no chance. Although the Railway management will wonder how he managed to carry the ball so far without a proper challenge…. The third goal effectively killed the game and Railway failed to take any points on the opening day of the league season.

1.     Chris Corbin
2.     Gary Fripp
7.     Leroy Corbin (c)
5.     Steve Woods
12.   Shaun Bryant
10.   Mike Excel (S Manual)
6.     Shaun Brazier
8.     Dan Blackburn
11.   Bradley Asagba (A Manual)
9.     Paul Lines 
16.   Dan Manual 


Branksome Railway Hotel Man Of The Match: Shaun Bryant

Branksome Recreation Ground
Dorset Senior Cup 
3rd September 2006

The Railway kicked of the season going down 6-3 to a fairly decent Christchurch side formerly BAE Systems.

The Railway had to start the game without a number of players who would command a starting place and with midfielders Dan Blackburn and Bradley Asagba carrying knocks.

However despite a fairly poor opening, the Railway settled intro the game and considering this was a weakened side some of the players drafted in performed excellently in the first half notably, Gary Fripp playing out of position at right back and new signing Shaun Bryant in the back three. The Railway had numerous chances to go in at half time with the lead but with squandered half chances from Paul Lines and Dan Manual and a wayward strike from Bradley Asagba after engineering a good opportunity the half time score was 0 - 0.

Co-Manager Steve Manual was the only halftime change due to an injury to Mike Excel. This however didn’t seem to bother the Railway as they took the ascendancy in the second half as Christchurch struggled to come to terms with the wind. Asagba, Blackburn and Steve Manual all combined well to set up an opportunity for Paul Lines but his shot was blocked. That was to be Asagba's last contribution to the match as shortly afterwards while chasing down a back pass he was injured in a collision with the Christchurch keeper. Andrew Manual duly replaced Asagba. Despite this the Railway continued to press the play and it was no surprise when they took the lead. Being presented with a corner on the left wing Dan Manual proceeded to drift a lighted cross into the box only for it to evade everyone including the keeper and to fly into the top of the net at the far post. 1-0.

 But almost straight from the restart the Christchurch equalised after a defensive lapse by Branksome to make it 1-1. Shortly afterwards though the Railway re-took the lead with Dan Manual latching onto a through pass and coolly slotting home. This remained the score until the dying minutes of the game when Christchurch again punished a tiring Railway back line and capitalised on a loose ball in the box to equalise. This clearly had deflated the Branksome players and in extra time Christchurch raced into a 5-2 lead before debutant Shaun Bryant headed home to make it 5-3.But in the last minutes Christchurch broke away to kill the game and make it 6-3.