The match kicked off with AFCB fielding the same team that performed so admirably at Bloomfield Road. Despite playing against what the Pools manager, Martin Scott, called “the best footballing team in the league”, it did not take long for the home side to dominate the opening exchanges. Apart from a shot by Surman which was comfortably saved by Konstantopoulos, Pools created most of the early chances with Ipswich loanee, Dean McDonald, looking particularly lively up front and Stewart being forced to make a couple of good saves.
On 28 minutes, however, Robertson’s teasing corner was nodded towards Sweeney who headed the ball back into the danger zone. Istead, the smallest player on the pitch, rose unmarked to head home from close range as the statuesque Cherries defence looked on.
Having scored the opening goal, Pools were full of confidence and passed the ball around with ease. McDonald fired a shot against the post before scoring Hartlepool’s second goal after 39 minutes. The youngster latched onto Llewellyn’s pass and used his pace to drag the ball wide of the Bournemouth defence and unleash a fierce shot that appeared to squirm under Stewart’s diving body. Appeals for handball by some of the Cherries contingent as McDonald collected the ball from Llewellyn seemed rather tenuous.
The pre-match novelty of looking forward to seeing us play at Victoria Park had now worn off and I started to pine for the gentrified surroundings of Jackson’s Wharf pub, even at £2.70 for a pint of Marston’s Christmas Ale (whatever happened to the North-South divide?). Shortly before the interval, however, a glimmer of hope was provided courtesy of Big Fletch, whose powerful header forced the keeper with the very long surname to parry the ball to safety.
HT: 2-0
The second half heralded the start of a Bournemouth fightback with Hayter finding himself one on one with the goalie only to see his shot blocked. As is often the case when I watch the Cherries on their travels, Bournemouth only start playing once they are a couple of goals behind. Bournemouth took control of the game with Surman and Foley looking impressive as they sought to open up the Pools defence.
Urged on by their merry band of supporters, including a fat bloke who decided to go topless (no, not me I hasten to add), Bournemouth continued to press forward and pulled a goal back after 68 minutes. Hart’s cross from the left was met first-time by Foley who used the inside of his foot to expertly guide the ball in off the post past a hapless Konstantopoulos.
Despite all our possession and a couple of chances from Hayter, the Hartlepool defence held firm and Bournemouth’s equaliser proved to be as elusive as a pint of Cameron’s Strongarm (perhaps I just go to the wrong pubs).
With Bournemouth camped in the Hartlepool half but unable to deal the killer blow, the final whistle came as a welcome relief to the home side. Bournemouth, however, trudged home knowing that our two game renaissance had come to an end and we’d have to prolong our wait for a repeat of Tuesday night’s performance at Blackpool.
Surman: at the heart of most of our best moves AFCB: Stewart, Hart, O'Connor, Young, Foley, Stock, Cooper, Surman, Browning, Hayter, Fletcher
Subs: Moss, Purches, Cooke (for Browning, 78), Rodrigues (for Fletcher, 88), Keene (for Young, 88)
Jon Blake, Whitley Bay