Milestone man Blu Boam ‘a big player’ for Baffins Milton Rovers

The striker netted his 100th goal for the club in Tuesday’s 2-2 Wessex Premier League draw at AFC Portchester.

Boam reacted quickest after Jamie White’s shot had rebounded off the base of a post just before half-time.

It was his second goal of the season after coming off the bench to score in the 3-0 victory over Bournemouth Poppies on October 24.

Boam has returned to the starting line-up since the second lockdown restrictions were lifted earlier this month.

Thompson also started him against Horndean in the Portsmouth Senior Cup and in last Saturday’s 2-2 draw with Alresford.

In all three games, he was taken off around the 70-minute mark as he continues to build up his match fitness.

Prior to lockdown, his appearance against Poppies was his only one of 2020/21.

‘He’s a big player for us,’ said Thompson.

‘He was superb on Saturday and was superb again on Tuesday. He had a right old battle with (Portchester centre half) Craig Hardy.’

Boam has been with Baffins throughout their rapid rise up the non-league pyramid, though he did turn out a few times for Harvest Home in the Mid-Solent League last season.

He first played for Rovers in their Portsmouth League days before netting 15 goals in 2013/14 when they won the Hampshire Premier League at the first time of asking.

His best season for the club came in 2014/15 when he belted 34 goals in 37 league and cup appearances.

Jason Parish (29) and Dean Harris (26) were also prolific in a season where Baffins were runners-up in the HPL and won the Hampshire Intermediate Cup.

Boam netted 13 times in 19 outings when Baffins won their second HPL title in 2015/16.

It was apt that White provided the assist for Boam’s goal at Portchester, and later netted Rovers’ second on his 300th appearance for the club.

That’s because White, like Boam, also played for Baffins in their first season in the HPL. As in fact did Josh Dean, another who started at Portchester in midweek.

Baffins are not short of goal threats, with Tommy Scutt, Rudi Blankson, Miles Everett and Billy Connor joining Boam in Tuesday’s squad.

‘We’ve got some good strikers. Tommy Scutt, Rudi Blankson has been a good impact sub, Despite that, Thompson said he could have a new strike signing available for this weekend’s league trip to Poppies (2pm).

The mystery forward has previously played in the Wessex League.

There will be changes at the centre of defence as Josh Warren and Zak Sharp are both out of the trip to Poppies through suspension.

Warren starts a three-game ban for his red card last Saturday while Sharp sits one game for five bookings.

White is also banned - another with five yellows - but Baffins welcome midfielder James Cowen back from a three-game suspension.

Sam Emeney could win a recall to the centre of defence while Ryan Peake, dual signed from Chichester, has finished a 10-day period of self-isolation.