The Cherries started this encounter like a steam train when Symes nodded the ball on for McQuoid to slide the ball home from a close range in just the 3rd minute. It seemed at this stage that the Cherries were going to rip County to shreds. Marc Pugh fired in a free kick from the edge of the area which cannoned off the cross bar to safety in the 8th minute such was the Cherries dominance in the early stages.
The game went a bit quiet and entered a more scrappy stage as neither side could make any real headway. The biggest cheer during this passage of play came when Bartley took out a certain John Spicer, who was boo'd throughout the game as many reminded him of his ungratious comments when he departed Dean Court for Turf Moor.
The game sprung in to life when McQuoid neatly lobbed the ball over the stranded keepers head (25th min), this from a long ball from Jalal. Minutes later Feeney found Robinson in space as he swept the ball home to set up what was looking like a comfortable 3-goal lead after just 28 minutes.
If we thought it was going to be one-way traffic, there was a timely reminder that might not be the case when on the half hour mark Burgess was fortunate enough to see the ball bounce off the far post and in to the back of the net to reduce the arrears.
Feeney had the perfect opportunity to restore the 3-goal advantage shortly after the restart when a half volley was deflected wide for a corner. This after good work from Pugh to set up the opportunity in the first place.
County could easily have reduced the deficit themselves when a corner was floated in, a goal bound effort was cleared off the line - demonstrating the value of having players in the post from set pieces.
Feeney was guilty in the 54th minute when the Cherries manage to create a 3-on-1 opportunity. With Symes to his left and McQuoid to his right, both in space, he somehow manage to dither for too long, allowing a saving challenge to come in to rob the Cherries of what would have been a goal scoring opportunity.
With County making changes, they came more in to the game. They got their reward for pure persistence in the 91st minute when Westcarr rifled home from close range. With Cherries heads clearly dropping Smith grabbed a dramatic 95th minute equaliser to snatch an unlikely share of the spoils.
The final whistle was greeted with delight from the County fans and players. What I found disappointing was the provokative gesturing from some County players towards the Cherries fans in the East Stand, which only served to rile some elements of the crowd - very unprofessional and sadly not spotted by the match officials.
Jalal: Performed well when called upon
Purches/Wiggins: Didn't do too much wrong this afternoon
Cooper/Pearce: Cool and confident at the back
Feeney: Created more problems in the first half than second
Bartley: The work rate of Bartley is simply amazing. Covered ever blade of grass on the pitch
Robinson: Industrious as ever in the middle of the park
Pugh: Had a quieter game than what we've seen of late and restricted to any goal scoring opportunities
McQuoid: Took his two goals very well and is more than capable of scoring goals as we've seen in the last couple of games
Symes: Not too many opportunities came his was this afternoon
Bradbury: Very disappointing to see Bradders at fault for the second County goal
Hollands: For taking Spicer out twice in a matter of minutes should be given the Freedom of the Borough
Taylor: Showed his inexperience and lack of match practice
AFCB: Jalal, Purches, Cooper, Pearce, Wiggins, Feeney, Robinson, Bartley, Pugh, McQuoid, Symes
Subs: Garry, Cummings, Arter, Stockley, Hollands (for Feeney, 71 mins), Taylor (for McQuoid), Bradbury (for Symes, 84 mins)
Andy Burton, Portsmouth