The first game at Dean Court saw the Cherries have the vast majority of possession but only managing to produce one goal. The replay was similar – but without the goal.
Cherries first chance fell to Steve Fletcher when he met Wade Elliott’s cross only to keep up his recent shooting accuracy and to balloon it over the bar – at least it went out for a goal kick and not a throw in this time! On 14 minutes the home side’s Prendergast shot narrowly wide and shortly afterwards Feeney went tumbling in the Stanley box but the referee, correctly, put it down to the increasingly perilous frozen pitch rather than a foul.
Despite continuing pressure the Cherries were unable to create more than a couple of half chances as the first half came to a close
H-T 0-0
The second half started with two of the most half hearted streakers ever seen – both male and baring one chest between them – given the temperature though this was probably very wise. When the stewards and police declined to chase them they wandered off embarrassed.
Fletch put another chance wide with only the ‘keeper to beat when he benefited from some hesitancy in the home defence and Speare in the Accy goal saved well at the foot of his right hand post from Feeney.
Hayter (who had replaced Elliott at half time) was the next to fire over the bar after probably the best football of the match in the build-up and Purches was denied by a last ditch tackle from Halford as the Cherries tried to force a win and avoid extra time.
With 5 minutes to go Neil Moss, who had been largely a spectator, showed his fine concentration by making fine saves in quick succession from Mullin and Proctor.
So extra time it was (good old-fashioned extra time without golden, silver or bronze goals). This was greeted with less than enthusiasm by the handful of Exiles staying over in Accrington who saw the Valuable Drinking Time beginning to ebb away.
The first period of E-T saw both teams apparently afraid of losing rather than going for the win and penalties (and even less VDT) began to look likely.
The best chance of the second period fell to Accrington but Moss again came to the rescue with another fine save from Flitcroft.
With about a minute of extra time to go the Accies manager John Coleman sprang a surprise when he substituted the goalkeeper Speare with Jon Kennedy – not least surprised was Speare himself who must have thought that the 4th official was indicating one minute of added time. Presumably Kennedy was put on for his penalty saving prowess because in the minute remaining he managed to fluff 2 kicks which could have led to chances for the Cherries. It would have been interesting to hear Mr Coleman explain that away if we’d scored from one.
So penalties it was and the first 7 (Feeney, Stock and O’Connor for Cherries) were despatched well. Then up stepped Karl Broadhurst who skied it Jonny Wilkinson style well over the bar (I don’t think it would have gone in 2 goals), which just left Howarth to step up for Accrington to complete the depressing evening and send us off to the pub for what remained of opening time.
|
AFCB: Moss, Purches (Buxton, 95), Cummings, Broadhurst, Elliott (Hayter, 45) Carl Fletcher, Browning, Stock, O'Connor, Feeney, Steve Fletcher
Subs Not Used: Connell, Maher, Thomas
Clive Loader, Wimbledon