Feb 26 AFC Bournemouth 1-1 Brighton & Hove Albion Att: 6337

Last updated : 27 February 2002 By Andy Burton
This was a huge game for both Clubs, Bournemouth needed three points to avoid the drop, and Brighton needed the points to maintain their push for a second automatic promotion. In the end a share of the spoils didn't do much to help either cause, but it could have been so different.

Right from the start Bournemouth attacked and could very nearly have taken the lead in the very first minute. A useful run from Wade Elliott (playing in his accustomed right wing position) set off like a steam train for the Brighton goal, the result was a blistering shot that cannoned off the post, with Holmes following up the ball was played back for another shot to cannon off the opposite post. Unfortunately by this time the linesman had seen the ball cross the by-line before Holmes played it back in, but Bournemouth had laid their cards on the table, and had Brighton on the back foot straight away.

The first moments of controvsery were not far away. On just 90 seconds Neil Young, making his first appearance for nearly 18 months, was booked for an alledged challenge and on 5 minutes Stewart was probably lucky not to be sent off for a challenge outside his area. In both cases the Brighton players went down in such a theatrical manner many of us believed it was a clear case of diving on the part of the visitors. Needless to say the referee saw it differently from most of those watching.

If anyone this was going to be a quiet dull run-of-mill-affair was going to be very much disappointed.

Further excitment came as Bournemouth tried to play football through Elliott and Thomas on opposite wings, but each time Brighton's only answer to both was to tug on their shirt or just haul them to the ground. The worst offender being ex-Portsmouth player Robbie Pethick who got away with most of his offences against the pacey Danny Thomas, and when a free-kick was given against him the look of disgust was amazing.

Bournemouth were still leading the charge forward and were making good use of both wings, either Thomas/McAnespie down the left, or Elliott/Hayter/Young down the right, and through pace alone Elliott and Thomas had the beating of the Brighton defence, but in most cases the Bournemouth players were trying too hard and invariably ran straight in to a wall of Brighton big men. When Hayter did beat the last defender, the only answer Brighton had was to haul him down - no foul given!!!!!! At this point we were absolutely sure that the match officials were making it up as they went along. It seemed like a just reward when we did win a free kick on 36 minutes for another disgusting challenge when Holmes scored from close range after the ball ping-ponged around their defenders legs. Unfortunately the lead didn't last long - just a minute to be precise. Their equaliser was the most controversial moment of the half. Brighton crossed the ball in from their right side, fell to Brooker whose blistering effort beat the outstretched the fingers of Gareth Stewart. With the linesmans flag raised for off-side we thought we'd been saved, only to see the referee overrule his official. Why?? The Brighton player was right in front of Stewart. It was a truely amazing decision. When the half time whistle came the home fans certainly let the referee know their feelings and his ability to officiate this particular game.

If the first half was mostly Bournemouth, the second half was mostly Brighton who carved out the better chances. The match officials were doing their best to conjure an away win. With the half bearly a few minutes old, the referee signalled that he was awarding Bournemouth a goal-kick. But no, the linesman decided it was a corner, the Brighton players berrated the ref and with howls of abuse from the large number of visiting supporters he changed his mind and awarded the corner. AMAZING - he ignored the linesman in the first half, but decided to take his advice this time!! WHY??? Thankfully the corner came to nothing, even though the ball did scrape the outside of Stewarts' left hand post. Bournemouth did have an excellent chance to regain the lead when a beautiful free-kick found Neil Young inside the area, his attempted flick didn't quite come off, but it was a great chance. Elliott and Hayter tried their best to get past the Brighton defenders with typical pace and trickery, but in trying to do too much at times, the moves broke down for Brighton to clear.

The middle part of the second half was fairly even, so Sean decided to take off Young for Ford on 68 minutes. Bournemouth kept on trying to push forward, but either the cross or move forward came to nothing on too many occassions either because the players took too much on or the first touch was poor. The half ended with Brighton as the dominant side as Bournemouth seemed to be content in sitting back allowing the visitors to run at them. Needless to say Brighton took advantage of the possession and could have wrapped up three-points as several golden chances were wasted, the best of which hit the cross bar and another which saw the ball skid past the right hand post with just Stewart to beat.

In any normal season I'd be content with a home point in a local dery match, but this evening a point was not enough, especially as Northampton won to sink the Cherries in to the dreaded bottom four. We played well, but not well enough to claim the much needed victory.

Thomas - never stopped running
Maher - outstanding in defence

AFCB: Stewart, Young, Tindall, Maher, Purches, McAnespie, O'Connor, Elliott, Thomas, Holmes, Hayter
Subs: Ford (for Young on 68 mins), Eribenne, Foyewa, Kandol (for Thomas on 90 mins), Smith
Andy Burton, Portsmouth