March 5 Swindon Town 0-3 AFC Bournemouth Att: 8275

The 4-5-1 of last week's Tranmere game was predictably switched to a more conventional 4-4-2 with Browning dropping out and Hayter coming in.

In just under a minute 1-0 to the boys in (sky) blue. Some interchange between Stock and Hayter resulted in the ball being worked out wide to Wade Elliott who took the ball wide of the full-back and fired the ball across the goal. Shot or a cross or maybe both. Who cares? The ball nestled in the far bottom corner of Evans' goal very nicely.

Probably the conditions and the playing surface were a factor, but they were a lot of fouls during the opening stages. Most of these seemed to be committed by Swindon's Michael Proctor. Elliott also went in on Rhys Evans in the Swindon goal - probably a ball he had a right to go for although he certainly looked to be a little high in the challenge (unlike Drogba against Barcelona who went for the ball on the deck). On came Steve Book the ex-Cheltenham keeper in his place. The Swindon lot seemed upset at this, although difficult to say from the other end of the pitch. Also my umbrella was slightly in the way of my vision but I was too wet to consider moving it.

I can't really recall much else for the rest of the half apart from being cold and wet. Moss made a good tip-over and Brian Stock's passing was excellent. One in the eye for those that have been giving Stock stick recently.

HT: 0-1

The 2nd half then. Swindon didn't really look up for it in my opinion - or were we just vastly superior? We certainly produced some superior play on 56. Stock scooped a delightful ball over the shoulder of the Swindon back-line, Hayter was onto it in a flash, a first touch for the set, the second a volley into the top corner. Brilliant execution. 2-0 up. Coasting.

What could go wrong now? Cummings on one of his usual raids down the left flank seemed to be stopped by Swindon's Jenkins and Parkin. Immediately 'Wally' went down in a heap and it didn't look good. Later confirmed as Jenkins' challenge, it was at best clumsy, but probably not as malicious as some AFCB fans made out. When one of your players gets stretchered off some ill-feeling is perhaps understandable. (Later on that day the nightmare news came through and a double break means our marauding full-back will be out for some time which is of course sad to see.

Back to the game and 3-0 on 74, easy-peasy. O'Connor (Garreth) shifted the angle by a yard from the corner and Stock sent in a delightful delivery curving away from the range of the keeper. On loan Matthew Mills stooped to plant an unstoppable header past Book in the Swindon goal.

The game then petered out, with Swindon long beaten. Sean O'Driscoll gave Connell and Rodrigues run-outs with AFCB coasting over the line.

In summary, a very comfortable win, made all the more impressive by the fact a) that we were away from home and b) Swindon were our closest rivals in terms of league position. Unfortunately, this will have to go down as a Pyrrhic victory. Cummings' injury is a nightmare at any stage of the season never mind just before the run-in.

Brian Stock. He was amazing, covered every blade of grass, got stuck in and his creativity carved out both 2nd half goals. I am a big fan. I know he can sometimes be a 'Sloppy Stocky' but today showed how good he can be. Special mentions to Mills and O'Connor (James) who have settled into the back 4 in a flash with no problems whatsoever.

Cherries: Moss, J O'Connor, Cummings (Browning 67), Mills, Maher, Stock, Spicer, G O'Connor, Elliott, Fletcher (Rodrigues 86), Hayter (Connell 86).
Unused subs: Stewart, Coutts.