March 8 Exeter City 2-0 AFC Bournemouth Att: 4537 (1014 away fans)

Last updated : 09 March 2011 By Andy Burton

I could sum up the Cherries performance using one word, perhaps two at a push ......... but I know that there would be complaints if I were to do so.

To say this performance was poor was an understatement for a side starting the evening in 2nd place in League One as the Grecians set anout the Cherries in a similar manner as Sheffield Wednesday did at Dean Court a couple of weeks ago.

City started in adventurous mood right from the start, preventing the Cherries from settling on the ball, while crisply passing the ball themselves making it very difficult for the Cherries to assert themselves at all throughout the match.

Richard Logan should have put our hosts 1-up very early on, but managed to guide his header straight at a grateful Jalal in the Cherries goal. Sadly, from a Cherries perspective, this was a sign of the things to come as City were rewarded for their industry in the 16th minute as Cureton curled the ball around Jalal following neat passing build up play which lead to the opening.

The Cherries tried to press their case, but were limited to long range efforts which never troubled Hamer in the City goal. The nearest the Cherries came to levelling in the first half came when Marc Pugh managed to hit the cross bar. Had it have dropped in, I feel it would have an undeserved equaliser.

HT: 1-0

The second half wasn't much better for the Cherries. With no luck/guile* (* delete as applicable) in front of the City goal, the Cherries were his on a counter break as Cureton broke a non-existent offside trap allowing his strike partner Logan to double City's advantage just before the hour mark.

The Grecians could easily have extended their advantage still further if it wasn't for some sharp goal keeping from Jalal and the wood work coming to the rescue for the Cherries.

The first efforts on target for the Cherries came in the final 10 minutes or so when tame close range efforts were easily dealt with by Hamer in the City goal.

All in all very disappointing to say the very least. Not the kind of football we've come to enjoy watching the Cherries in recent times. Certainly the not the best preparation for Saturday either!

Man Of The MatchAs for man of the match ...... no one shone for me this evening, but will award it to Anton Robinson for his customary industry in the centre of the park, but even Robbo was found wanting at times.

AFCB: Jalal, Smith, Baudry, Pearce, Wiggins, Feeney, Robinson, Hollands, Pugh, Symes, Dalla Valle
Subs: Stewart, Purches, Cummings, Molesley, Partington (for Symes, 39 mins), Fletcher (for Dalla Valle, 63 mins), Ings (for Pugh, 92 mins)
Andy Burton, Portsmouth