However in the end, and despite all the fuss over the home club’s bizarre ‘petty’ decision to deny us any title celebration should we clinch the title or have any fun whatsoever, it was a goal at the death some 220 miles south that put a dampener on our party.
That said who could have believed that after first 12 games of the season we would be where we are today. Automatic promotion and the Championship, bliss.
Prenton Park was sparsely populated on 3 sides and the pitch resembled more a home for lizards in the desert and full of gopher mounds, looking heavy and lumpy, certainly not conducive to our passing game. It was the Cherries who looked to dictate the game from the off. Always the stronger side we probed the Tranmere defences from the start with Arter & Ritchie being the main threats.
An early opportunity presented itself from a set piece with an Arter step over of a Daniels cross only for Brett to fluff his shot. Shots from Arter & Grabban soon followed but were easily smothered. On 20 mins Harry Arter had a solo run through the sand dunes of the midfield riding several challenges only for a last ditch tackle at the top of the box creating enough distraction for Harry to pull his shot wide.
Whilst enjoying lots of possession and dictating play chances were at a premium. Tranmere offered little whilst our midfield worked hard to create opportunities. Harry Arter was industrious and Matt Ritchie looking quality on the right flank. At the back Cook & Elphick were imperious in marshalling the line and stifling any Tranmere attack. Pitman & Grabban in flashes tried to engineer something special, but were never in tandem or on the same wavelength.
The second half got off to a flyer with an Arter strike from the edge of the box that flew inches past the post. He was in the thick of action soon after with another mazy run that went on and on before finally being bundled out for a corner. As the hour mark was reached the Cherries were seemingly tightening the screw and in the ascendancy. Swift passing by Arter to Ritchie then Pugh resulted in a Pitman header straight at the keeper, followed soon after by a Ritchie strike as the pressure on the Rovers goal was steadily ramping up.
Pugh started to come into the game more and more but the end ball just never seemed to be deliverable. On 73mins Grabban and MacDonald were replaced by McQuoid & Hughes and the 2 linked up to fashion a further chance only for Josh’s shot to fly over the bar. The introduction of Fletch for Ritchie on 90 sent the travelling support into delirium. How fitting it would be for our talisman to score the winning goal. His entry to the game was worth a shot given the deadlock had not been broken despite being in control most of the game.
Alas it was not to be and a rather damp squib of an ending, saw the ref give a short shrill on his whistle and walked off without anyone else realising the game was over!
Then on to the pitch for one further celebration when just as we thought the title was ours with the Brentford penalty, it was taken from us moments later. Nevertheless you cannot escape the fact at just how successful our season has been. Given we gave the rest of the league a 12-game start, to be in with a chance of winning it on the last day of the season has surely to surpass any expectation we may have had in September & October.
And so it is we are off to the promised land of the Championship on a 9 game unbeaten run from which we have a solid platform to build a team to challenge comfortably for the level higher. Maybe we will see Charlie Austin, maybe not, but one or two wise signings for the middle of the park may just see us well.
Congratulations to the boys on a fantastic effort and have a great summer break before returning on August 3rd and Championship football, fabulous.
Up the Cherries In All Departments.
Harry Arter – was everywhere & at the heart of everything
AFCB: Allsop, Francis, Cook, Elphick, Daniels, Ritchie, Arter, MacDonald, Pugh, Grabban, Pitman
Subs: Jalal, Seabourne, Fogden, Tubbs, Hughes (for MacDonald, 74 mins), McQuoid (for Grabban, 74 mins), Fletcher (for Ritchie, 90 mins)
Nick Wallinger, Isle Of Man