Feb 7 AFC Bournemouth 2-0 Exeter City Att: 5497

Last updated : 11 February 2012 By Ellis Griffin

Although at the wrong end of the table, Exeter had been proving hard to score against of late and it was soon easy to see why. They looked very well organized at the back and composed when in possession. In fact they began the brighter of the two teams and it was our defence that was put to the test early on.

Front-man Nardiello was posing a constant threat and tested Flahavan with a shot that the keeper held at the second attempt.

After ten minutes of Grecians pressure, the home team began to assert itself and the game fell into the pattern that would continue for the rest of the half: a lot of Cherries possession, but an Exeter defence that looked pretty comfortable.

Our main threat came down the left flank with Pugh and Daniels, particularly the latter, but no clear chances materialized. Although Tubbs and Thomas worked hard up front, the service they needed, at least in terms of crosses, was rarely forthcoming. Despite the odd flash of skill, McDermott looked a bit rusty out on the right.

The only real excitement for the home fans was a brief spell in which the Cherries had four shots charged down in quick succession.

Generally, however, the slow pace of the game favoured the visitors, and as the first half drew to a close, it was clear that we would need to up the tempo after the interval if we were to break down a resolute Exeter defence.

HT: 0-0

The tempo was duly upped in the second half and for the first time the Grecians were put under real pressure. However, they continued to frustrate the home side, a feeling compounded when Thomas rattled the crossbar with a header from a Pugh corner.

Then, from a free-kick a few yards in from the flag, a variation on the old corner routine nearly worked when Tubbs went agonizingly close to opening the scoring.

At the other end, an Exeter "goal" was ruled out when Flahavan was barged into the back of the net by Archibald-Henville. (It might have been a goal in Tommy Godwin's day!)

McDermott was coming more into the game and delivered a couple of dangerous crosses from the right, but nothing seemed to be dropping for the strikers.

Was it going to be one of those nights, we wondered - especially when Flahavan was forced to save spectacularly from a looping Logan header.

The turning point in the match came when Bradbury decided to bring on Malone in place of the tiring (or possibly injured) McDermott with 20 minutes to go. This produced an immediate injection of energy as the former Wolves man tore at the visitor's defence.

And it was Malone's tenacity that enabled him to find Tubbs unmarked in the six yard box a couple of minutes later. The "local lad" was calmness personified as he controlled the ball with one foot before lashing it into the net with the other. His first ever goal at this level and a vital one in the context of the game. You can imagine the celebrations!

The Cherries really had their tails up now, but Exeter were forced out of their defensive shell and began to commit men forward. Ironically it was an Exeter corner that led to the goal which made the game safe for the home side. The ball was headed clear to Malone just inside the box and the full-back-turned-winger accelerated away to near the half-way line with Thomas and Tubbs in support. He played the ball to Tubbs on the right before continuing his run to the far post where Tubbs picked him out. 2-0 and game over.

In the end, a good result against a team that looked much better than their league position would suggest. Zubar and Cook were rock solid at the back and needed to be. The Cherries had to be patient at times, but it was the substitution that made the difference.

Man Of The MatchDespite being on the pitch for only 20 minutes or so, it has to be Scott Malone.

AFCB: Flahavan, Francis, Cook, Zubar, Daniels, Gregory, MacDonald, McDermott, Pugh, Tubbs, W Thomas
Subs: D Thomas, Arter, Malone (for McDermott, 68 mins), Fletcher (for Tubbs, 89 mins), Purches (for Gregory, 89 mins)

Ellis Griffin, Chertsey