only to be undone by a last gasp moment of lack of concentration that allowed Cheltenham to smuggle a goal that enabled them to go home with all three points that there was no way they deserved.
A day that had started with such promise with lovely spring like weather gradually changed to overcast skies and thick fog. In fact, as I neared the town I was certain that the game was going to called off, but as three o'clock approached the fog cleared sufficiently for the game to go ahead, albeit with a ground shrouded in mist and temperatures that gradually fell away as the afternoon progressed. An impressive turnout of almost 1,000 travelling fans packed out the away end and got behind the side throughout the game, and saw a side that lined up with the now familiar 4-4-2 formation.
The difference this time was that with injury and suspension Kevin had to pick an almost untried, and certainly inexperienced, midfield quartet that included three youngsters on loan and Danny Hollands.
For perhaps the first time this season (well, for a long time and certainly the first that I have witnessed) the defence had shape and looked solid as a consequence, with Warren Cummings looking like he had never missed the best part of the last two years at left back, Shaun Cooper fitting in comfortably at right back and Neil and Josh Gowling sweeping up everything that came through the middle, seemingly without breaking sweat. Mossy was called upon in the entire first half to make just one save, diving low to his right to put the ball behind for a corner. With Fletch and the lively James Hayter up front, the Cherries were always going to be a threat, but with the inexperience that there was in midfield all too often they were slow to get forward in support and for all the good approach play few chances, in reality, were created and missed. The best of the chances in this first period fell to Fletch who hit a searing shot that the keeper did well to save and Josh Gowling, who showed some nifty footwork on the right before putting in a good effort that was unfortunately straight at the keeper.
On the half hour, Kevin was forced to make a change as Jack Cork was went off injured to be replaced by Stephen Purches. Believe it or not, that was pretty much it for the first half, a period that was by and large ruined by an over fussy and whistle happy referee who gave almost every fifty-fifty decision, and a lot of the sixty forty ones for that matter, to the home side. Perhaps his most bizarre decision was to award Cheltenham a corner, adjudging Mossy having carried the ball over the line, but man and ball were quite clearly still on the pitch. Where was the assistant to help out?
Right on the corner flag, so a bizarre moment and possible contender for What happened Next?
After the break the Cherries all but camped in the home side's half (which was good, as it meant that they were kicking towards their fans) and with James continuing to show his class and inventiveness were a constant threat.
Bjarni Vidarrson launched a number of throws into the area that were as good as corners (which was possibly just as well as Shaun's efforts from the dead ball were all too often wasted) and Fletch huffed and puffed to get on the end of them, often at least double marked. Try as they might, however, the Cherries lacked that final cutting edge and rarely troubled the keeper, not forced him into making too many saves. In fact, it was not until quite late on that Danny Hollands ventured forward and struck two ferocious shots, one that went nowhere near the goal, and the other straight at the keeper.
Cherries continued to push forward, sensing that the game was there to be won, and when the four minutes of added time went up on the board there was a sense of premonition that it was going to go pair shaped. In the third minute of this added period, Cheltenham won a corner from what was just about their only foray forward in the second half and from close range and among a mêlée of players, Spencer came through to head the only goal of the game.
There was still time to go down the other end and win a corner, but like too many of the efforts that had gone before, it came to nought, failing to test the keeper.
This was a desperately disappointing result as, in reality, Cheltenham offered embarrassingly little in attack, their one ploy seemingly to fall over flat on their face whenever they got anywhere near the penalty area. Driving home and listening to Cardiff and Leeds fans on 606 bemoaning the performance of the Premiership's Mark Clattenberg and suggesting that he was not good enough for this level and that he should keep moving down the leagues, I could not help to consider that our very own referee should join him.
So stand up Mr Mathieson, and be counted: this was not one of your better performances.
This was a solid Bournemouth performance and one that certainly gave this correspondent hope for the rest of the season. The defence looked organised and with James Hayter buzzing around up front showing pace and guile the only real concern was the lack of experience and penetration in midfield. This has surely got to be the top priority for next season, as Shaggy and Marcus with a combined age of eighty-four cannot continue on their own, supported by an array of loan signings.
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AFCB: Moss, Moss, Cooper, Young, Gowling, Cummings, Wilson, Hollands, Cork, Vidarsson, Fletcher, Hayter
Subs: Broadhurst, McGoldrick, Stewart, Pitman, Purches (for Cork, 27)
Dave Linsay, South Woodham Ferrers