Aug 18 AFC Bournemouth 1-1 Cambridge United Att: 4315

From my unaccustomed position in the Main Stand (courtesy of Nationwide) it soon became clear that my suspicions were justified, as the Cherries struggled to impose themselves on the game. A few changes had been made since Tuesday's frustrating shut-out against Kidderminster: Young, Stock and Elliott were either injured, dropped or relegated to the bench, with Holmes starting up-front, Browning in midfield, Narada coming in at left-back and Purches switching to right-back.

Our defence soon began to look shaky and Hayter had to head off the line from a corner. Tardif and Mayer got into an embarrassing tangle on the edge of the box, but Tindall managed to clear the danger. At the other end, Feeney was brought down on the edge of the area, but the resulting kick was easily cleared. However, our best chance fell to Holmes who beat the offside trap with a well-timed run, only to shoot tamely at Marshall.

Feeney looked lively at times, but kept either straying offside or getting penalised for pushing. Cambridge were looking the more enterprising outfit and deservedly took the lead after 35 minutes when Fleming had time to steady himself on the edge of area before cracking a crisp half-volley past Tardif.

Chances then came and went at either end before the half ended, unsurprisingly, to a chorus of boos from the home fans. The team had looked out of sorts and lacking in confidence or initiative throughout. Clearly the moaning had got to Mrs. Grant whom I witnessed berating a punter who must have said something derogatory about the management. Indeed, the lady was beside herself. If only the team had shown a quarter of that passion on the pitch….

HT 0-1

The second half started better. It couldn't have got much worse! Carl Fletcher spotted Marshall off his line and shot from a good 40 yards, but the Cambridge keeper just managed to tip the ball over the bar. However, things really picked up when Elliott and Connell came on for Hayter and Holmes around the hour mark.

Elliott began buzzing menacingly around the box and, shortly after his introduction, Connell flicked on for Feeney who sprinted through to stab the ball under the advancing Marshall. Jubilant celebrations between Feeney and the North Stand fans!

We were looking a different side now, and I thought we'd taken the lead when Elliott curled a shot towards the top right-had corner. However, Marshall did exceptionally well to finger-tip the ball over the bar for a corner. Then Connell had a header cleared off the line. However, Feeney had the best chance of all when he found himself in a similar position to his earlier goal, but contrived to hit the side netting with a right-footed toe-ender when a left-foot strike would surely have found the target.

So we had to settle for one point for the second home game in a row. Hardly promotion form, but a few positives can be drawn: Narada had a reasonable game at left-back which allowed Purches to play on the right where he looked a lot happier, Browning will be a useful acquisition, Connell showed a lot of promise when he came on and Wader looked a bit more like his old self at times. On the negative side, Tardif made one good stop but failed to impress generally, Tindall was very erratic at times, Hayter looked depressed, "Deadly Derek" was indeed deadly (poor) and it's time Feeney came to terms with the offside rule.

Feeney

AFCB: Tardif, Tindall, Purches, Maher, C Fletcher, O'Connor, Hayter, Narada, Browning, Feeney, Holmes
Subs: Stock, Thomas (for O'Connor, on 82), Elliott (for Hayter on 62), Connell (for Holmes, 62), Broadhurst.