Cummings had to head clear for a corner, which was headed in but struck off for a “foul” on Moss. Browning had a spoiling role; Wilson had a set-up role; Cork was doing both. Cummings then put in a great run, linking with Browning. The ball came to Anderton who turned the defender from the same position as the first goal, belted it past the goalie's left hand. 2-0, 16 min! This was his first Boscombe goal from open play, he was passing well. He took a free wide left, & Fletcher headed over; seemed simpler to nod it in. There was decent closing down in midfield, & closing off wing angles – so far, so good, but to me Wilson was a half-yard short of pace. Cummings made a great through-tackle. Anderton sent in Hayter, who took it round to his left, firing at the keeper. Not a clean take – but Fletcher was 10 yards back instead of following-up anticipating for the pieces. Then Cork had a long shot pushed round, & Cooper just missed a Fletcher near-post flick. However, there was a lack of calling in defence, as Cooper gave away a corner needlessly. Moss saved from it with his knees.
Cork was having a good game – anticipate, collect, give – at which point he misplaced 2 passes. But Cherries were making fewer mistakes than Orient, & keeping the ball lower in the wind. Anderton was yellowed for one of his now-trademark late tackles from behind; some of us foretold of a second, i.e. red, in the 2nd half. There were 2 lengthy stops, culminating in an Orient sub. Anderton & Browning played a lovely link through midfield, then Young & Gowling showed good covering. Orient 19 shot over from wide right, & Young tackled superbly so that Orient had a corner instead of a goal attempt. Moss rollocked Fletcher for again being in the way at the kick. Cooper & Anderton won the ball unexpectedly & well; Anderton shaped to shoot as the whistle ended the half. 2-0, deserved, & much crowd acclaim.
Orient had to make a defensive change, so on came hard-man Mackie. His first action was to nut Hayter as they both went to head the ball; the yellow was flashed. Hayter took the ball to inside-left, pulled it back, Anderton took it round that side, & his left-footer went under the keeper for 3-0 on 47 min! We'd barely finished celebrating a few minutes later when Mackie hand-balled after a tussle with Fletcher. Cooper reversed it to Hayter on the wing, Fletcher headed back the cross, & Anderton knocked it in at the keeper's left-hand post. 4-0, 53 min! Above Orient on goal difference & out of the drop zone!! The hat-trick hero took the applause somewhat bemused…
This allowed Bond the luxury of introducing Vidarsson, for Wilson (who'd drifted out of the game after a half-hour) on 61. He didn't prevent a great ball to the right-winger who crossed beyond the far post. The return shot went to the corner flag; it summed up Orient's day, trying to play football but nothing coming off. Then Hayter latched onto a centre-circle headed flick, ran through & under the keeper again. 5-0, 68 min! Oh yes; this is what the club needed. So Pitman replaced Fletcher straight after. A superb move involved Cummings, Hayter, Pitman, Cork & Cooper who crossed & Hayter's pile-driver was pushed out.
Cooper was up & down the field well; Cork supported the attack now more than Anderton, & Pitman & Hayter were giving it a real go. Hayter was clearly pulled down, but no pen – I suspect the ref felt Hayter was backing in. And twice the lino on our side gave 2 wrong off-sides against him & Pitman. Vidarsson was put clear on the left by Anderton, but the cross was over-hit; that was his only significant contribution to the game. Cummings screamed down the left, but his pass inside was too soft, never reaching Pitman. Hayter was felled, with 21 yellowed. Browning was still trying well in defensive midfield. Hayter battled magnificently at the corner flag, & pulled it back for Cooper to show off some trickery, slaloming round defenders. He bent his shot just outside the far post. By now, Cherries were playing total football, with Anderton, Browning, Cooper & Cork almost rotating around the pitch. Even so (or inevitably), our centre-halves were exposed a little too much.
Anderton tackled back well; how did Orient score 4 at Crewe? Cummings made another lung-bursting run, showing he's back to form. Orient shot over, then just wide twice, the 2nd for a corner (Moss tip round?), so give them credit for trying to the last. FT 5-0 & a standing ovation.
A good team performance; the best result since beating Donnie Rovers 5-0 in 2004/5. Of those able to play, I'd've had Pitman & Hollands instead of Supa & Browning. However, Browning's contribution to the first 2 goals was crucial, & he was tidy later. And I'm sure we have too many loanees. Regarding Dazza: his first hat-trick in 542 senior games was pure - 3 consecutive goals, all scored with feet; the ratio of his goals to others scored was 3:2 i.e. 1.5. In a word, sesqipedelian. However, Supa scored his first-ever hat-trick in fewer games, & I'm sure Anderton would've swapped this 3-some for his shot going in at the Euro-96 semi-final instead of hitting the post. That was one of the games I attended that tournament, & of course he's lost a bit of pace but matured as a passer. He's entitled to every plaudit.
My goal quota theory was vindicated – Orient had scored 4 at Crewe recently so had used up theirs. But the same applies to us – after thumping Boston 4-0 in November, we gained 1 point out of 6 & failed to score in both games. Nevertheless, an encouraging result.
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AFCB: Moss, Young, Gowling, Cooper, Cummings, Wilson, Browning, Anderton, Cork, Fletcher, Hayter
Subs: Stewart, Broadhurst, Hollands, Pitman (for Fletcher, 68), Vidarsson (for Wilson, 60)
Pete Wicks, Bulford