April 5 Bristol City 0-2 AFC Bournemouth Att: 12008

This prompted from Bristol City what was to be their last meaningful spell of dominance of the game. Steve Brooker had a hopeful claim for a penalty turned down when tussling with Eddie in the area. Leroy Lita then had an acrobatic turn and shot tipped over the bar by Neil Moss as the pressure increased on the Cherries goal.

However, back came the Cherries with Stock putting in Hayter but Phillips saving well at his feet. Still the game ebbed and flowed with City wasting a golden opportunity from a free kick just outside the area, and a sign of things to come: a quick counter from the Cherries with Hayter just unable to get his shot away when he seemed certain to score!

However, the half came to a close with the two teams still locked together scoreless.

HT: 0-0

The first chance of the half fell to Leroy Lita, put through on the 50 minute mark by Brooker. Great speed by Mossy off his line forced Leroy's hand and he blazed over the bar. A corner to Bournemouth followed with the dummy routine used to great effect and Wade forcing a desperate save by Phillips scrambling it around the post.

A blatant hand ball by a flustered City defender was then turned down much to the consternation of a travelling support of about 1100 who appealed as one for a penalty.

However, the breakthough was not to be long in coming. On the 60 minute mark we attacked again, Supa played in Gareth O’Connor and with a superb finish with the outside of his foot the ball was in the back of the net. Delirious celebrations followed in the away end. Bristol City 0 Cherries 1

It was all Bournemouth now with superb support coming from the travelling Cherries fans. Seconds from the re-start Hayter was put in by Supa again but it went just wide. City had cracked totally and did not know how to cope with us, as Wade saw a goalbound shot palmed away by Phillips at full stretch. Bournemouth broke again with Hayter putting in a pinpoint cross for the fast arriving Spicer. How he didn’t score with his header I will never know, inches wide with the City defence in tatters!

Still we attacked and on the 70 minute mark Coles poleaxed Spicer in the penalty area - penalty! Up stepped Garreth O’Connor to make it 2-0 showing ice cool nerves. Bristol City 0 Cherries 2

This was a cue for City fans to start leaving in droves and for the noise level from the away end to increase even further if that was possible! Bournemouth played out the remaining 20 minutes very professionally and could have easily raised their game if the situation had called for it. We made one substitution near the end with Browning replacing Wade.

In summary a superb performance in all areas of the pitch by the Cherries. If we can maintain this level of form no-one will fancy playing us in the playoffs.

Garreth O'Connor