After lively opening exchanges of play it was Bournemouth who opened the scoring on the 19th minute, following neat build up play following an excellent ball into the box by Simon Francis. Charlie Sheringham controlled the ball and fired a left footed volley into the bottom corner of the net with a superb finish for his first ever league goal, showing the sort of finishing reminiscent of his father to send the supporters who made the journey east into raptures.
Despite the setback Brentford almost levelled the scoring just before half time with a powerful header from Gary Alexander that hit of the side of the post and went out for a goal kick despite this Bournemouth went in at half time with their lead still intact.
After the break Shaun Macdonald was unlucky not to find the back of the net, seeing his shot hit the post. Straight afterwards Brentford were again close to finding an equaliser through Sam Saunders who after a neat piece of footwork managed to wiggle his way through the Cherries defence before firing a decent effort that Daryl Flahavan managed to somehow hold onto. Following the Flahavan save came a period of Bournemouth pressure, Fodgens well driven right footed drive was well held by Richard Lee. Lyle Taylor replaced Sheringham just before half time after the striker was forced off injured following a high tackle from Jake Bidwell, Almost immediately Taylor shot a teasing right footed shot drive that went agonisingly wide of the Brentford post.
minute Mark Molesley replaced Shaun MacDonald as the cherries looked to ensure their 4th away win in a row (if only our home form was this good). The cherries looked as though they were almost home and dry and were able to maintain the balls position around the opposition ends corner flags. But the announcement that there would be four minutes added time seemed to inspire the Brentford players, who began to pile on the pressure. Brentford’s Nathan Donaldson was thwarted by Daryl Flahavan who had been excellent all afternoon, but moments later Brentford found their equaliser. The long throw that had resulted from their last attack was not dealt with by the cherries defence and following a good ball in from Nathan Donaldson, Legge met the ball with a powerful header which turned out to be the last meaningful contribution to the match.
But the positives from the match that Bradbury could take certainly outweigh the negatives as the Cherries took points away from a side in the play offs and now remain unbeaten in their last 9 away games, although for most associated with the club with the goal coming so late on in the game (94th minute) the result felt like a defeat.
AFCB: Flahavan, Cook, Francis, Zubar, Purches, Pugh, Daniels, Fogden, Gregory, MacDonald, Sheringham
Subs: Jalal, Cummings, Parsons, Taylor (on for Sheringham, HT), Molesley (on for MacDonald, 65 mins)
Andrew Gray, Woolwich