Aug 19 AFC Bournemouth 2-1 Cheltenham Town Att: 5378

AFCB got off to a quick start, Best laid the ball off to Hart who crossed into the box, Hayter ducked undder it and Fletcher swinging a boot at it put it in the back of the net 1-0 after 90 seconds.

Hayter then had an effort go over, an AFCB corner was cleared to edge of box, Fletcher headed back in, but best felled to make good contact with the ball and it ended in best giving away free kick. afcb were on top for the first 15 minutes, until McCann recieved the ball in the centre from the right, and from 35 yards sent a shot towards goal, which at first Stewart looked to have covered but the ball bounced in front of his dive and went in off the post 1-1.

Cheltenham dropped deeper but leaving two up, Hart had an effort from a good move involving Foley and Cooke, fly over the bar. Odejayi then forced Stewart into a save with his feet, Best was put in by Hart to shoot across goal. A couple of tame efforts from both sides saw the half come to an end at 1-1.

The second half started same as the first, with AFCB starting the stronger. Hayter had an effort saved, Stewart saved from a Wilson effort, Hart then cleared off the line from a Cheltenham corner. Best then hit the bar at other end after a scramble in the box. But soon after a Foley cross was met by the head of Best to make it 2-1 after 55 minutes. Another Best effort forced keeper to save with his feet. Then came the changing point, Cheltenham brought on Vincent, who AFCB could not cope with. His pace and trickery made life harder for the defence.

Foley shot wide, Best forced a save after turning his marker. A Guinanheader hit the cross bar and the follow up was gathered by Stewart. Cheltenham were beginning to get the upper hand. A McCann free kick was punched cleared by Stewart, which was followed by another free kick which went over the bar this. By now we had everyone in the box. Then near the end came the miss of the game. A weak punch from Stewart from a cross landed on the head of Armstrong who managed to put his header passed the post. We managed to hang on then till final whistle.

At the moment we seem to only play for 10 or 15 minutes in each half, then we lose our shape and go on the back foot. A big worry is lack of pace in defence, and the lack of hieght in midfield. When we went 2-1 up why do we drop all eleven behind the ball, O'Driscoll must know what he is doing??

This I will easily give to Eddie Howe, he was a rock at the back, ran himself into the ground, he won everything in the air 10/10 easy. The rest of team had indifferent games.

AFCB: Stewart, Hart, Howe, Broadhurst, Purches, Cooke, Hayter, Copper, Foley, Fletcher, Best
Subs: Moss, Platt, Hollands (for Cooper, 83), Gowling (for Cooke, 87), Cummings (for Hart, 88).

Steve Hunt, Shaftesbury