Feb 25 Bristol City 3-1 AFC Bournemouth Att: 11058

Last updated : 09 April 2006 By Rob Mann
The Cherries kicked off this vital game against Bristol City obviously motivated by Sean O’Driscoll's superb motivational skills, the above two quotes being gleefully reported by local press in the run up to the game!

Both teams were desperate for the win and it was soon Bristol City on the attack much to the consternation of the large travelling support from Bournemouth. And it didn't take City long (7 minutes in fact) to take the lead, making a freezing afternoon feel even colder. The goal was indicative of our frailties at the moment - Neil Young tried to head the ball back to Stewart but could only find Dave Cotterill who had the easy task of setting up McCammon to side foot into an empty net with poor old Gareth looking at our captain in bemusement!

Bristol City 1- Cherries 0

On the 18 minute mark it was nearly 2-0. A McCammon header from a corner was blocked by Stewart and the rebound was saved again superbly from Brooker when it looked easier to score. McCammon on loan from Brighton was tearing our defence to bits every time he got the ball with Bournemouth struggling to get a grip on the game.

It took 30 minutes for our first shot on target with Foley, who was not looking totally fit, cutting in from the flank and letting fly from about 20 yards, but the City stopper saved with ease.

Still Bristol City poured forward but their finishing was terrible with Fontaine and Murray squandering great chances.

Then on the 45 minute mark, just as we were pondering on where the 2 minutes of time added on had come from, Jamie Hayter delighted the 850 or so Bournemouth fans with a superb individual equalising goal. He picked the ball up about 35 yards from goal and after taking a step or two lashed an unstoppable shot into the top left hand corner. I have never seen Jamie celebrate a goal more than this one - in front of the away end with everyone going mad!

The half time whistle followed whilst we were still catching our breath, with the definite consensus being we had proverbially got out of jail.

HT: 1-1

Bournemouth started the 2nd half quite brightly for a few minutes at least with the away support really getting behind the team. Steve Fletcher who had been very quiet in the first half (probably not fully fit after his layoff) forced Basso into a save from one of our two corners in the game.

But this false optimism lasted until the 57th minute, and it was Steve Brooker that broke our brief renaissance when he cut in from the left and let fly from about 18 yards. Gareth looked to have it covered but a wicked deflection off Neil Young's heel totally wrong-footed him at his near post.

Bristol City 2 - Cherries 1

Could we come back again? The simple answer was no, as the fragile confidence on the field drained totally away. And on the 64 minute mark it was game over. Brooker on the edge of the box after another City attack was given all the time he wanted to turn and shoot beating Gareth at his far post with a low shot.

Bristol City 3 - Cherries 1

Luckily no further damage was to follow and City visibly took their foot off the gas with the points won. The Cherries did actually end the game quite brightly after Griffiths came on to make his debut for us on the 80 minute mark, replacing the injured and ineffective Rix. He slotted into defence with the giant Aaron Brown, who had looked very shaky in defence, going up front with Jamie. Steve Fletcher by now was just a passenger - why Sean O’Driscoll kept him on the field was a mystery to me!

Brown's first contribution was to shoot into the side netting, and he then set up Jamie Hayter from close range to score but he was ruled offside. Impossible to tell from where I was whether this was a fair decision but in all honesty I was too cold to care with a reported windchill of -5!!!

The final whistle soon put us out of our misery (although the last few minutes had seen a lot of our travelling fans leaving). To add to our problems, Callum Hart seemed to be limping for the final few minutes.

For myself and fellow Exiles from the South West, Jamie Hayter by a country mile. The only other Cherries players to warrant a mention are Cooke in brief glimpses and Brown in his attacking role. A desperate performance in all honesty. Not good enough Sean O’Driscoll - in all departments!!!!


AFCB
: Stewart, Young, Purches, Brown, Hart, Cooke, Rix, Browning, Foley, Fletcher, Hayter
Subs: Moss, Tindall, Griffiths (on for Rix, 80 mins), Fordyce, Pitman
Rob Mann, Kingskerswell