April 22 AFC Bournemouth 1-2 Colchester United Att: 6321

Last updated : 29 May 2006 By Exiles Reporter
Eddie Howe missed out, to be replaced by Karl Broadhurst making his first start of the season and looking remarkably like King George VI with his full beard. (Why is it that there are so few bearded footballers?)

We were also graced with a premiership referee in Dermot Gallagher who is due to retire at the end of the season. Although I've been impressed by him in the past some of his decisions today suggested that his retirement is overdue as his eyesight already seems to have gone.

The visitors started the more brightly and Yeates forced a save from Gareth Stewart after just 2 minutes. Two minutes after that a floated free kick from wide on the right had the Cherries defence looking like bridesmaids trying to catch the bouquet at a wedding as Chilvers rose above the confusion to head low past Stewart and give the U's the lead.

Bournemouth were back on terms just 3 minutes later when a good passing move from the back found Cooke on the edge of the box and he shot across the keeper and in off the far post.

Colchester responded strongly to this setback and Stewart was forced to make saves from Yeates and Halford in quick succession. Halford was also once more causing panic in the defence with his long throws into the box which are a least as dangerous as corners.

The best move of the game came with the Cherries playing some wonderful one‑touch football which culminated in Foley back-heeling into the path of Cooke. Unfortunately this time Cookie's shot was weakly struck and keeper Gerken was able to deal with it comfortably.

The first half ended with Colchester pressing strongly but the Boscombe defence working hard to restrict the chances to long shots.

H-T 1-1

The pressure continued at the start of the second period and Colchester went back in front following some woeful defending (© Alan Hansen). Duguid broke down the left and ran around Purches like he wasn't there. The defence was stretched wide open and his cross found the totally unmarked Vernon who had time to mis-control with his first touch and still volley high into the top corner.

Cherries tried hard to get back into it but a combination of Colchester closing down the space and some poor passing giving the ball away meant that chances were few and far between.

The visitors created chances for Iwelumo and Duguid but as the game drew on the importance to them of the win meant that their tactics turned increasingly towards wasting time.

A good one-two between O'Connor and Hayter ended disappointingly when James's touch let him down. Hayter looked off form throughout and a shadow of the player who's up amongst the leading scorers in League One.

The time wasting by the U's continued and the substitution of Danns resulted in the replaced player making a bid for the slowest ever 50m walk. I think he would still be trudging off now if Cooke hadn't given him a helping push.

Despite some huffing and puffing the Cherries never seriously threatened Gerken's goal and the visitors succeeded in running the clock down to win the 3 points they deserved and to consolidate their hopes of automatic promotion. It sounds like sour grapes but if they do go up I can't see their tenure in the Championship being a long one.

Man Of The Match
Neil Young – seems to get better as he gets older, by the time he's 40 he could be challenging his brother for an England place!

AFCB: Stewart, Young, Purches, Broadhurst, O'Connor, Browning, Cooper, Foley, Cooke, Fletcher, Hayter
Subs: Rix (on for Browning, 80), Hart (for Foley, 60), Pitman (for Purches, 60), Rodrigues, Griffiths
Clive Loader, Wimbledon