Jan 1 AFC Bournemouth 1-0 Brighton & Hove Albion Att: 6686

Last updated : 23 January 2007 By Exiles Reporter
Gillett had the first early effort with a tame effort straight at Henderson, from an Anderton through ball. Moss had to make an easy save from a seagulls effort minutes later. AFCB were then on top, with Anderton shooting high over from a Gillett cross. Henderson was forced into a good save before a Pittman effort went just wide. A Howe diving header was the next effort to go just over from an Anderton corner.

A Browning error put in Brighton's Cox but luckily he shot well over the bar. The rain began to fall harder and the seagulls adapted the better, Revell forcing Moss into a save when he shot across goal. Moss then held the ball well under pressure from a cross in the tricky conditions. Henderson also held on well after an Anderton free kick. The half came to an end 0-0.

Revell playing well for the Seagulls, saw his early header from a cross go into the side netting, with the the away fans going wild thinking he had scored. Cooper had an effort go just wide after a good build up. The Seagulls should then have scored but Moss pulled off a great finger tip save to prevent them. He saved again from the feet of Cox when he went clear in the box. Again seagulls went close from a Cox free kick. AFCB then won a free kick just out side the seagulls box but Anderton failed to even get it passed the wall. Then we should have scored, Vokes headed the ball against the post from a Copper cross, and Cooper followed up to fire across the goal, but it was put out for a corner, which was easily cleared. Vokes had an effort deflect of defender to fall into Pitman's path, but he miss hit his shot and it went wide. Gillett had an effort deflected wide of the goal late on.

Then the game went into injury time, it seemed to be all over, when a hopeful ball played forward by Young just went straight to Henderson, but instead of picking the ball up and kicking it, he took a touch and then slipped, Pittman was straight in on him and robbed the ball from him and slotted home from tight angle passed defender on the line 1-0. That was the final play of game as the Seagulls kicked off ref blow for full time. It was tough on Henderson who had had a good game, but it just goes to prove not to give up till final whistle, good on you Pitman, who never gave up for the whole 90 minutes.

Man Of The Match
Most people would go for Anderton as it was possibly his best game, but no, Moss gets my vote as he made a couple of great saves and safe handling in very tricky conditions.

AFCB: Moss, Purches, Young, Howe, Cooper, Browning, Anderton, Gillett, Hayter, Vokes, Pitman
Subs: Stewart, Fletcher, Hollands, Gowling, Connolly
Steve Hunt, Shaftesbury