What an early start to the day ..... up and out for the 0824 from Fratton in a brave attempt to avoid the locals heading up the road for some FA Cup match against some team beginning with 'S'. If this was my plan, it failed at the first hurdle as Fratton station was swarming with the local oiks who were looking at me JUST because I had a red scarf on. HOW RUDE!
Getting to London, meeting up with Mr Nesbitt at Waterloo and then Mr Henstridge at Fenchurch Street, time to head out to Barking to meet the rest of the Exiles for a bite to eat and a few beers before heading off on a rail replacement service and the rare delights of Dagenham - and I really do mean rare!
Just as rare in this game were any clear cut chances on goal ...... it has to be said that neither set of players were on the same wavelength as their colleagues; some on DAB, some on FM, as for the rest, probably on medium wave.
As for the game itself, just as well I was doing match commentary as I'd find it difficult to recall any chances. Listening back, there weren't any. The first clear shot on goal came in the 39th minute when the Daggers were awarded a very soft penalty, this after Steve Fletcher was adjudged to have held a Dagenham player inside our penalty area. There was hardly any contact, but the penalty was awarded, which was duely dispatched by Mark Arber for what proved to be the only goal of the game.
The Cherries did try and break forward, but there was a complete lack of understanding as to what to do in the final third of the pitch - assuming we got that far.
The second half wasn't much better to be honest.
The Cherries could easily have conceeded a second goal but for the acrobatic saves pulled off by Jalal, including one superb double save. Bartley, who was covering more than his fair share of ground, managed to get back to clear off the line.
As for Cherries shooting chances, there were a couple of efforts that were on target, but I use the term loosely as they were soft to say the very least and were never going to trouble the Dagenham keeper in a month of Sundays. He was never severely tested throughout the match.
All in all a very disappointing display by the Cherries which was lacking in so many ways. Even Connell was introduced to the game, it was more like introducing a headless chicken to the match - sadly he never looked at the races.
Jalal - did superbly well when called upon. Made some crucial and superb saves.
Bradbury - didn't do too much to impress. Poor distribution of the ball.
Pearce - always does a shift at the back.
Bartley - an excellent performance at the back.
Wiggins - not quite with it today, but clearly a quality player when compared to the opposition.
McQuoid - didn't do too badly, some neat touches, but nothing clinical.
Hollands - again put in a shift, but not quite as impressive as he's been recently.
Feeney - not too much in the locker when crowded out by 3 defenders.
Robinson - was on the teamsheet - didn't do a great deal that I noticed.
Fletcher - stupid to conceed such a soft penalty, not on the same wavelength as Pitman.
Pitman - didn't get any service whatsoever.
Connell - when he came on was largely ineffective.
My man of the match nomination is a joint one to both Jalal and Bartley who were superb in their respective roles.
AFCB: Jalal, Bradbury, Bartley, Pearce, Wiggins, Feeney, Hollands, Robinson, McQuoid, Fletcher, Pitman
Subs: Thomas, Cummings, Goulding, Tindall, Connell
Andy Burton, Portsmouth
