Cherries' tactics were clear; pass the ball through midfield and slip it beyond the back-4. However, Feeney was either too early with his run, or already offside (no excuse), or SupaFletch was on the back foot. Poor control in midfield led to a Stans shot from 20 yards, easy for Moss. SupaFletch challenged the no.5 who went off briefly, then permanently, but they kept to their game plan. There was no need to patronise this outfit; they played controlled football to a plan, and soon won a corner. Our lot were criminal in their dereliction of duty at the near-post, allowing no.10, Mullin, to nod in easily. 0-1, 9 min. Was this a Stanley knife to the heart? But Stock stuck to his role in midfield, prompting all the while mainly "in the hole". Gouck & Elliott tangled, but the ref. took away the handbags & made them shake hands. A nice right-wing move won a corner, with the keeper catching well from SupaFletch's header, but Stans were capitalising on any bad bounces not dealt with by our midfield or defence. Certainly they looked a better side than when beating Terriers in the next round – our pitch again allowing visiting sides to look good.
SupaFletch might've been held back from connecting with a Elliott cross, then there was a spell of too many balls on the pitch with the ballboys not keeping control. Then the ref. spoke sternly to the Stanley bench. Certainly neither side shirked in the tackle. Elliott emulated Jonny Wilkinson by lifting the ball over the bar – but with his left foot – from a nod-back. Another nod-back saw a flying save from Browning's shot. Stans's no.11 was yellowed for handball by the corner of the area; Cummings wasted the free, then it was hoisted into their area but the flag went up for offside. Feeney was put in on the left, his chip just evading Stock, ghosting in like Martin Peters of old, & Elliott. There was more activity in their area than in our half, but no telling strike, with through-balls overhit.
Cook was their main man, organising, making plays, tidying up, & saw a shot go over from wide. Cherries provided much variety, and both sides had good breaks (Cummings having to race back to cover) just before cuppas & oranges.
HT 0-1
On the restart, Feeney set off on a typical restart dribble; this time at least it ended up with a home corner. SkipperFletch was just wide with a diving header, then Elliott beat the offside trap and his cross had players queuing up – Browning shooting against a team-mate. I thought, get one now we get 5, but… Elliott moved inside to help counterbalance the Stans 4-5-1, but he got lost in the general melée. Gouck was yellowed, and was feeling the pace. Another good move saw the keeper stranded and Stans conceding a corner.
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Another home corner, and Purches snr. lifted the ball nicely – but hit the bar. O'Connor could only put the rebound in the side netting. I'll not dwell on SupaFletch's shot soon after; Cook showed how to do it with a snapshot just palmed round by Moss. Every time Cherries went forward, Stans would respond, even being offside a few times.
I'd been thinking of taking Elliott off; he wasn't delivering this game, & lo & behold O'Driscoll read my mind & Tindall replaced him on 75, playing wide right to try to make 2 wide big men heading down to Feeney in the middle. Never really worked. "We've got Wade Elliott; he's for King – brilliant" but on this display I remain a republican. Then Feeney was felled 25 yards out; Stock showed Goldenballs how to do it & the freekick was curling just inside the angle when the keeper managed to fingertip it onto the bar. The ball bounced down but out.
The ball came out of the away defence, & Stock knew exactly how much time he had to not only reach & win the ball but also to take the onrushing opponent out of the game and not recover to re-challenge. A subtle moment in the by-now harum-scarum game as Cherries tried everything to avoid a replay. A tale of the no.8s; Cook was replaced by no.16 on 78 to well-deserved applause; he'd reminded me at times of Georgie Hadji of Roumania with his raking long left-foot passes. Our no.8 kept it cool right the way through; pity that the home skipper, although one of our more intelligent players, was still overhitting long balls to wide areas, and Browning shot against JT. JT hit an overhead that was punched out. Suddenly Stans had a 3:2 attack, and Moss saved for a corner, & another, ending with Stans playing in the corners; they'd had as least as much nous all game as the home side. An excellent cup-tie; gutted I can't make the replay & I'll not tempt fate with a prediction. I have a nagging feeling it'll go to penalties.
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AFCB (4-4-2): Moss ; Purches, C. Fletcher, Broadhurst, Cummings; Elliott (Tindall, 75), Stock, Browning, O’Connor; Feeney, S. Fletcher.
Subs unused: Stewart, Maher, Hayter, Buxton
Peter Wicks, Greenford