What a day! For me it started at 0445 when the alarm rudely went off to wake me from my slumbers ..... time to get ready and get myself down to Fratton station for the 0628 to London Waterloo, and then across London for the 0903 to a darkened Birmingham New Street.
A good choice of lunchtime pub in Burton On Trent, given that they'd been good enough to have a beer festival on - they must have known the Exiles were coming!
With an impressive 1800 Cherries fans making the trip to the East Midlands, there wasn't any shortage of noise and atmosphere at The Pirelli stadium.
The match started in lively fashion as the Cherries pressed their claim for the opening goal to settle any nerves. It could almost have been too as Pitman had what seemed like a simple header clear the right hand upright with the keeper apparently no where. Pitman also saw a couple of other chances go begging, as did Danny Hollands in the opening 45 minutes.
Burton steadily came in to the game, with Maghoma seeing a header glance just wide of Jalal's goal.
Typical of the Cherries, who were resolute throughout, was Marvin Bartley who if he did loose the ball, battled back to regain possession in typically determined fashion. But then that could be said to many in the red and black of AFC Bournemouth. The entire squad were magnificent, sticking to their task in a very professional display throughout.
Jalal was called in to 'serious' action (36th min) just the once when at full stretch, he tipped the ball past the post when Mahoma saw a goal bound effort go behind for a corner. To be honest this was the only save Jalal had to make throughout the game.
HT: 0-0
The second half started with the Cherries in determined mood to wrap up automatic promotion, with Danny Hollands firing in a shot just over the cross bar 20 seconds after the restart, then it was the turn of Steve Fletcher and Jason Pearce turn to see efforts blocked by the Albion defence and keeper.
We were getting closer ......
Even when Albion strayed forward, everyone defended resolutely, with Brett Pitman producing some clearing headers to alleviate any danger.
Then the moment came in the 66th minute we were all waiting for. Steve Fletcher knocked the ball down for Brett Pitman whose half volley found the back of the net! Cue celebrations among the 1800 vocal away support! Pitman could well have wrapped it all up when he saw a shot go just wide of the Albion goal in the 76th minute.
The icing on the cake, with a cherry on top, came in the final few seconds of the 90 when Anton Robinson produced a powerful run down the left hand side, he worked himself in to the penalty area, cut the ball back to find Alan Connell to tapped the ball in to the back of the net to confirm the result and automatic promotion back to League One.
After 5 minutes of added time, the ref called time on proceedings to cue mass celebrations and the mandatory pitch invasion from the jubilant away support.
Overall the Cherries more than deserved their win and their place back in the third tier of English football.
As for man of the match ......... I am going to have to give to Brett Pitman for his contribution the full length of the pitch. Having said that, I also have to mention the contributions from the rest of the squad too who were simply magnificent. That ALSO has to include Eddie Howe and Jason Tindall who have performed wonders off the pitch managing a squad with very little room for maneouvre.
UP THE CHERRIES - IN ALL DEPARTMENTS!!
AFCB: Jalal, Bradbury, Pearce, Cooper, Wiggins, Robinson, Hollands, Bartley, Feeney, Fletcher, Pitman
Subs: Thomas, Guyett, Igoe, Goulding, McQuoid (for Feeney, 85 mins), Connell (for Fletcher, 89 mins), Cummings (for Bartley, 92 mins)
Andy Burton, Fratton