Jan 24 AFC Bournemouth 1-0 Queens Park Rangers Att: 8909

The opening few minutes belonged to Bournemouth after a half hearted chance which was easy for Mossy to deal with. An early succession of Bournemouth corners came to nothing, but did have the QPR hearts a fluttering when one of their number sliced the ball for a corner. It could have gone anywhere, so a fruitless corner was the outcome.

With tails up, Bournemouth began to dominate proceedings, as both flanks we kept fully employeed. On the one side, O'Connor and Cummings were busy, and the other, Buxton and the ever lively Cooke were equally industrious.

In a superb move (20 mins), Stephen Cooke started a move by passing Padula, as if he wasn't there, avoided a couple of challenges, flashed a cross which managed to avoid just about everyone as it flew across goal. The slightest of touches from Feeney would have seen the opening goal without too many questions asked, such was Bournemouth's dominance at this stage of the game.

At this stage, life was coasting along quite nicely, but Mossy was about to demonstrate what an absolute star he really is. The save came part way through the half and saw Moss forced in to a save, pushing the ball over his own cross bar.


The second half was equally lively as both sides looked for the opening goal. The first few minutes of the half were relatively quiet, but things began to liven up on the hour mark as Steve Fletcher flicked the ball on between 2 defenders, one swung a boot at the ball, missed, and allowed Feeney to pick his spot, firing past the QPR keeper for the opening goal on 58 minutes. Cue celebrations!!

A team of QPRs calibre, do not like going a goal down, so they kicked off battling, looking for an equaliser. Their reaction, bring on goal machine Tony Thorpe!! Bournemouth decided to defend deep, but this only served to invite more QPR pressure!! Why on why do we do this to ourselves?? QPR really tried to apply the pressure. The defensive quartet had to be at their best to keep QPR at bay. Most notable, Karl Broadhurst was outstanding at the back, making many vital interceptions.

Then on 75 minutes, Bournemouth made some changes, on came on Elliott and Jorgensen replacing O'Connor and Cooke.

QPR did get the ball in the back of the net, it might have counted if it wasn't for an early off side flag!! Good old linesman (sorry - refs assistant)!!

In the meantime, Moss was called up to make a three more first class saves as QPR pushed forward to claim a point. Even with 4 minutes added at the end of the half, Bournemouth held out for an all important win which left the home side 3 points better off and 2 places further up the table (in 11th), and only 3 points off the play-off places.

There were several outstanding individual displays this afternoon. Marcus Browning, Karl Broaurst, to name but two. But my nomination goes to neil Moss who was outstanding in the Bournemouth goal.

AFCB: Moss, Cummings, Broadhurst, C Fletcher, Buxton, O'Connor, Browning, Hayter, Cooke, Feeney, S Fletcher
Subs: Stock, Elliott (on for Cooke, 75), Holmes (for Feeney, 90), Thomas, Jorgensen (for O'Connor, 75)

Andy Burton, Portsmouth