It took half an hour for the first really dangerous chance to be created when Spicer drilled a 25 yarder just over the bar. Dons hit back with a fine move down the left, the dangerous McLeod laying it off for Harding to head just over. McLeod then won a free kick just outside the box which was wasted from a good position.
The half came to life on 35 when the first real flowing move of the game ended with Hayter being hacked down in the area, just when he was going to ‘pull the trigger’. Penalty given, but where was the card, minimum yellow surely? O’Connor stepped up and hit it low to the keeper’s right. Not a bad pen. but a great save, and one that was to prove costly to the Cherries.
Almost immediately after, Green was booked for a 50/50 challenge on the halfway line as the referee adjudged him to have stopped a goalscoring opportunity. Quite what he thought Hayter had, just 3 yards out from goal, 60 seconds earlier, I can only wonder!!
HT: 0-0
AFCB again failed to impose themselves in the 2nd half , although the defence looked solid. Howe played as if he’d never been away and Simek showed wonderful positional sense, good control and real commitment too. In fact, I didn’t spot one mistake.
All half, the midfield failed to link to attack which was composed of an out-of-form Hayter and a rather static Fletcher. He won balls but not many layoffs were picked up by Hayter. Sending long balls to the front line was akin to losing them down a black hole.
On 75, our playoff push petered as a great move down the left from Dons was finished with aplomb by Edds. The goal was against the run of play but we were just not looking dangerous.
Huff and puff resulted in one good chance: Spicer threaded a perfect ball through to the onrushing Elliott who shot tamely against the keeper from a good angle. Connell came on with 10 to play, Stock and Rodrigues with just a few moments left. Too late to make a real difference. I, like many others, wondered why these things are left to the last minute when original plans aren’t working.
As the whistle went, I witnessed a handful of supporters behind the dugout screaming abuse at SOD. The manager gave back as good as he got before being bundled down the tunnel by Danny Wilson no less. Fans comments were out of order and not productive but why does SOD get involved? Today we lost to a very well organised team who were very disciplined and who hadn’t lost for 10 matches. A damaging home defeat producing a pointless Easter.
SimekAFCB: Moss, Young, Howe, Green, Simek, O'Connor, Spicer, Browning, Elliott, Hayter, Fletcher
Subs: Stewart, Purches, Stock (on for O'Connor 87), Rodrigues (for Howe, 87), Connell (for Green 81)
Richard Butler, Chertsey