Feb 9 AFC Bournemouth 2-1 Notts County Att: 5472

Last updated : 10 February 2010 By Andy Burton

If Saturday's 0-0 draw was dull and largely boring, this encounter with promotion chasing Notts County was anything but as the game ebbed and flowed throughout.

The Cherries got off to a flying start, winning a corner in the opening minute. Wiggins floated in a fantastic ball for Danny Hollands to head home from point blank range, leaving Schmeichel absolutely no chance what so ever! This after just 90 seconds. The Cherries were simply on fire in the first half. Moments after Hollands opened the scoring Pitman had a great chance to double the advantage, but shot straight at the keeper.

Try as they might, County simply couldn't get in to their stride as the Cherries thwarted their opponents at every opportunity. Hollands, Bartley and Robinson were doing a great job containing any and every County attempt to go forward.

Even when County did have sight at goal, they had clearly left their shooting boots on the coach and didn't look likely to hit a barn door marked 'BARN DOOR' in big 10-foot lettering.

Feeney had produced a rasping shot which sailed just over the cross bar, that from a flick from Fletcher that found Pitman, who flicked it on to Feeney to go on a mazey run, resulting in the shot.

Our dear friend, Lee Hughes, somehow managed to escape a yellow card, even though his more than physical challenges were more than deserving of at least one yellow card - not least of all for a terrible tackle on Bartley.

Bartley should have netted when put through, but again could only find the arms of Schmeichel. Moments later a neat passing move saw Schmeichel deny the Cherries a certain second when, somehow, he managed to block right on the goal line, when it seemed easier to score.

The second wasn't far from coming when Danny Hollands was found by Brett Pitman, who slotted the ball home in the 35th minute.

The Cherries were so effective during the first half, County could only go so far forward (barely to the half way line) before having to check and having to go backwards or sideways.

HT: 2-0

If the first half belonged to the Cherries, the second half definitely belonged to County. Within 5 minutes of the restart, Bishop pulled one back for our visitors as he netted from inside of the penalty area in to the bottom left corner. Bouyed up by the goal, County really came at the Cherries as they tried to find an equaliser.

Jalal had to be called upon to make some superb saves to deny County, with with finger tip saves, one of which he managed to tip on to the cross bar and behind for a corner, or had to get down late and low to prevent the equaliser.

The Cherries could have extended their lead as well, but were denied by an equally acrobatic Schmeichel in the County goal in front of the North Stand.

Justice was almost served against Lee Hughes when he came to within a whisker of slicing the ball in to his own net ...... sadly it just sailed past the near post and behind for a corner. How sweet that would have been if he'd managed to find the back of the net!

As the half progressed, the Cherries were defending deeper and deeper, with forrays in to opposition territory becoming fewer and farther between, which just invited more and more pressure from Notts County.

In the end the Cherries were good value for their first home win since December 28th. How nice it was to gain revenge for the FA Cup defeat!

There were many notable excellent individual performances across the pitch ......
Jalal for his handling
The entire back 4 for some excellent defending
Robinson for a tireless performance in midfield
Fletcher for an equally tireless performance up front
Man Of The MatchBut I am going to give my man of the match nomination to Danny Hollands for an outstanding performance in central midfield

AFCB: Jalal, Bradbury, Garry, Pearce, Wiggins, Feeney, Hollands, Bartley, Robinson, Fletcher, Pitman
Subs: Thomas, Connell, Goulding, McQuoid (for Bartley, 75 mins), Cummings (for Feeney, 85 mins)
Andy Burton, Portsmouth