Mar 15 York City 1-0 AFC Bournemouth Att: 3642

The match started off as a scrappy affair with York attacking down our left as their major weapon. However, the first goalmouth scramble was in the York box when chaos reigned after a Hayter knockdown Elliott's attempted chipped cross was deflected away for a corner. Very little of note happened in the rest of the half apart from a superb clearing header from Buxton. York were playing with a centre back and huge lump, Parkin, as a striker and a cross found him 4 yards out. He got his head to this but Buxton managed to get his head to it after this and also managed to clear it for a corner. Our only real effort was a Holmes shot from a lose ball after a Purches free kick. 0-0 ht and hardly any entertainment.

Five minutes into the second half we were a goal down. Across from our left was missed by the entire defence and the ball was knocked back into the middle of the area a few yards out for the aforementioned lump to tap it in. Awful defending with all defenders going absent. Soon after we almost had the perfect response but Cummins' fierce drive from the miss move from a corner was charged down for another corner.

We were now chasing the game but not doing a very good job of it. A mystifying double substitution was then made with Fletch and stock coming on with our wingers, Elliott and Thomas, being taken off. As we now had 2 large targets up wingers were essential to supply them. True we went 3 5 2 from 4 4 2 and so had wing backs but this is just not the same. Another questionable tactical change by the management team.

Three chances were made with Holmes hitting the bar with a header from a corner, some thought that it was Browning, and Hayter having 2 point blank shots saved by the 'keeper one after good work by Holmes. Try as we might there just wasn't the cohesion, imagination or whatever there to open up a fairly short York backline. Chukkie came on for the final few minutes but didn't really have a chance to show his powerful running although he did have a effort on goal from 20 yards which eventually got to the 'keeper.

This was a heartless performance and quite what the ref Neal Barry, from the Premiership, thought is anyone's guess. Less than impressed no doubt. Bookings for Elliott, dissent, in the first half and Stock for a foul in added on time made for an even more depressing day. The only good bit was the thought of an evening out in York.

Editors note – listening at home to BBC Radio Solent, they had a mare of a day with the broadcast, and lost the line. They switched to BBC Radio North Yorkshire instead. The 2 who were passing comment typified the BBC trailer for local radio commentary, and even managed to get two of our players names wrong. Apparently we had Stephen Punches and Brian Stockdale playing for us. They also described Chukki as ‘twinkle toes’!! Local radio may be poor, but given the comparison, all is forgiven Radio Solent, even if you are hopelessly biased towards Southampton!!

As the players didn't really seem to be too bothered I'm not sure why I should with this but will give it to Deadly Derek who was the only one to give his all.

AFCB: Moss, Purches C Fletcher Buxton Cummins, Elliott Browning O'Connor Thomas, Hayter Holmes.
Subs: Stock for Elliott and S Fletcher for Thomas 59 and Eribenne for Cummins 86. Unused Tardif Young

Phil Nesbitt, Reading