We kicked off away from us, with Feeney and Hayter up front. Tindall and Stock in central midfield, and all showed a positive attitude. Inevitably, lots of "cheat" chants – unfair on the home fans. Clare (remember him from Wembley ’98?) was busy early on, and Cherries were trying to pass it around. "We’ve got more points than you…" Good work on the right forced a corner, long ball, simple firm header by Maher, 0-1, 9 mins. This was OK! We were besting midfield, if not bossing it; Boston seemed muscle-bound. Hayter took up open positions on the left, Feeney was winning the ball with good tackles and was a real target. Tardif punched decisively in a defensive muddle, and on this display I hope we’ll keep him. Boston were fast and enthusiastic, but we were as quick to the tackle. Hayter went through but shot too early and at the ‘keeper.
Tindall and Stock were tough in midfield, and Stock and O’Connor linked well on occasions with well-weighted passed between and beyond them. Feeney was kicked but the ref. played advantage, allowing Elliott in on the right but he shot over. Hayter was put in the same channel, but slipped on cutting inside. Boston began to rough it up in midfield, but the best move of the half saw Hayter on the left chipping to Elliott on the right, to the near post where Feeney couldn’t quite direct his header inside the post. Half-time 0-1, deservedly.
Pilgrims made a sub. at half-time, then had to again just after the re-start. Soon a free-kick led to a mess in our area and a goal was celebrated; seems NY had mis-kicked it past Tardif. 1-1, 52 mins. It was all about who wanted it more; the ball went wide left and the player just passed it across Tardif into the goal. 2-1, 54 mins. Straight from the KO, a typical Feeney "bugger this" dash; he straightened his run and attacked the area, then lost the ball but it ran to Stock who swept it in from 15 yards. (The next day at Cardiff, Michael Owen had an air shot in exactly the same place…) 2-2, 54 mins, and my biro was burning holes in the notepad!
Stock won a corner well, but it was cleared up their left wing, NY messed up and Tardif had to dive at feet to block. Feeney was yellowed for a 50-50 in an on-going tussle; harsh as he’d received worse all game. Holmes replaced O’Connor and immediately released Feeney whose shot was blocked. Browning, wearing 4, came on for Stock and looked lively. Elliott had a good run and again the shot was blocked; it was fast and furious now. Browning tackled well, releasing Feeney on the right but his pass inside was taken out by the ‘keeper. He really should’ve done better, and then put in Browning who was offside. Feeney and Elliott had two successive joint attacks, ending with a corner. Elliott crossed well for Holmes, who headed back but Feeney mis-kicked wide. We were taking it to the home side; Feeney had another ball in easily cleared for a corner. Elliott’s cross saw Holmes skim a header wide, with Tindall following up but screwing his shot outside the post. Hayter tried a long header back in, but then straight down the other end Clare ran along the goal-line, cut back, and shaved the far post.
The ref. had a decent first half, but later was decidedly lacking in jurisprudence, making mistakes against both sides. It all evened out, as did the match. Both sides could’ve won it; perhaps we shaded it but 2-2 was an honourable result in the circumstances. Chukki might’ve had a run at a tiring defence.
After the game, over to the Eagle; great beer, diamond locals and a chance to reflect. Elliott was patchy, but kept going and in the last 20 minutes gave it everything, all the tricks. Feeney was fast and tricky, but his final ball in was easily blocked or saved too often, wasting his and the team’s efforts. Young and Purches were exposed too often but even so were mediocre defensively, with Young missing too many tackles and Purches rarely supporting the attack. Midfield allowed too much to go wide, and Hayter largely just filled a place again. BabyFletch and Browning would be a good combo. I’d prefer Broadhurst instead of Young on this display, with Tindall in defence.
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AFCB (4-4-2): Tardif, Young, Broadhurst, Maher, Purches; Elliott, Tindall, Stock (Browning, 68), O’Connor (Holmes, 62); Feeney, Hayter.
Unused subs: Connell, Eribenne, Thomas
Peter Wicks, Greenford