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We were all surprised, as it seems was everyone at the Club, to welcome back Max Gradel to the starting line up. It seems from what has been posted since, that he only appeared at Dean Court a couple of hours before kick-off and was thrown straight in to the starting line-up!
Right from the outset of this game, it was clear that it was Barrow who meant business and not the Cherries. In the very early stages our Conference North visitors missed a great chance to grab an early lead in front of the North Stand. How they missed is beyond me! For long periods Bournemouth were well pegged back in their own half of the pitch, which for a League side playing at home is not what we were expecting. Okay, the non-Leaguers were always going to make life difficult, but not to this extent. It also has to be said that we made life difficult for ourselves as well!
When we did pass the ball properly, we did cause problems, but once we reached the final third of the pitch, the ideas seem to run out and the move break down with Barrow clearing with ease. Our first shot on target was a halfhearted effort from Bradbury in the 20th minute.
A further let off for the Cherries came just before the half hour mark when Stewart palmed the ball away to the Barrow number 10 who had an open goal to aim at and only managed to miss the target by a narrow margin. We looked complacent and lax at the back. It was all too easy for Barrow and we were making it easy for them.
Then against the run of play, came a goal from nowhere. Scott Golbourne had our 2nd shot on target, which was first class to say the least, which had the Barrow keeper at full stretch but still found the back of the net in the 43rd minute. Easily an undeserved lead. Cooper was caught out on the stroke of half time as Barrow missed their 3rd clear chance of the half.
HT: 1-0
The second half started well enough for the Cherries as they pressed to add to the first half advantage as a succession of corners were won in the opening few minutes. One goal line clearance, but nothing came from the early pressure exerted by the home side.
A great strike from Rogan in the 55th minute saw Barrow equalise with a strike, which saw the ball fly in to the top left hand corner of the goal, with Gareth Stewart left floundering.
Game on!
An error from Josh Gowling allowed Walker to chip Gareth Stewart for a class goal in the 63rd minute. The small contingent of Barrow fans were rightly celebrating what I considered to be a justified lead.
Game well and truly on!!
Instead of responding and putting pressure on Barrow, it was Bournemouth who were put under pressure as we could easily have conceded a third! As has been the case many times this season fans were asking who was the home side!
A bizarre sequence in the 77th minute saw the ball roll along the Bournemouth goal line, off a post and (thankfully) in to the welcoming arms of Stewart. The style of play and level of cluelessness was going from bad to worse, so it was no surprise that the North Stand started to chant "We want Bond out, say we want Bondy out". At this stage it all seemed so inevitable as the Cherries were lacking any invention or ideas as to how they were going to get close to a shooting opportunity.
Then came the most bizarre incident I have ever seen. Karacan was upended in the area, which saw the ref award a penalty. Max Gradel picked the ball up to take the spot kick, only to see Brett Pitman go chasing after him to try and wrestle the ball from him. Clearly Max was not going to let go of the ball which then saw Pitman appeal to the bench, like a spoilt kid asking for his toy back. Assistant boss Newman was pointing and shouting, presumably for Max to give the ball to Brett, Bond just stood there looking uninterested and captain Telfer didn't do anything. This spell summed up for me the shambles the playing side of the Club is at the moment. Not to mention that it looked VERY unprofessional. Anyway ....... after the time was wasted with the childlike squabbling, Max eventually took the penalty and slotted it away to the keepers left hand side to force extra time in the 92nd minute. The first 'get out of jail free' card had been played.
With 2 minutes of time remaining, McQuoid crossed the ball, but we seemed to want to pass the ball in to the net, such was the lack of conviction as there was suddenly some urgency in the Cherries play in the final 2 minutes of the 4 added minutes at the end of the game.
FT: 2-2
Extra time started with Barrow back at us again as the Cherries were almost caught napping right from the start. A poor Cooper clearance allowed a shot from Barrow, which Stewart did well to hold. An attempted clearance from Cooper in the 102nd minute thankfully caught the Barrow front line unawares as the ball fell awkwardly and thankfully to safety. Gowling in turn missed what looked like a sitter just before the break from a free kick taken by Golbourne.
ET HT: 2-2
The second period of extra time saw Karacan replaced, having picked up a knock, but no real chance in the pattern, or style of play. The Cherries seemed keen to cause problems for themselves, without being able to really test the Barrow keeper at the other end of the ground.
Then came the moment which broke Barrow hearts. A cross from Pitman eventually found its way to Danny Hollands at the top of the penalty area who rifled home to secure victory in the 122nd minute of time! Relief for the Cherries, heart ache for Barrow - I really felt for them as they have given every ounce in this cup tie. There was more to come though as Hollands was adjudged to have over celebrated his goal which saw him pick up a 2nd yellow card and therefore sent off!!!
As for man of the match ...... I could easily list who doesn't deserve it, but my nomination goes to Max Gradel.
Stewart - did what he had to in goal, but his kicking was distinctly poor.
Telfer - does not make a good captain on what I saw this evening.
Gowling - allows even non-League players to get goal side of him too easily.
Cooper - okay at times, but too many errors at the back.
Cummings - nice to see him back, but clearly far from match fitness.
Golbourne - the least convincing of the Reading loanees, but scored a cracking goal, which was the 6th straight goal scored by a player in red and black which isn't one of own (as so to speak).
Hollands - did okay this evening. Scored a good goal right at the end. Sometimes lax in midfield.
Gradel - great to see him back. Just a shame that he didn't see enough of the ball, but caused plenty of problems when he did.
Karacan - would run for his country given half a chance.
Bradbury - he is the new Steve Fletcher!
Pitman - the sequence just before the penalty was taken summed up for me everything that is wrong at the moment.
Okay we're through, but it was hardly deserved. This game can be summed up not as a game of two halves, but a game of two sides ..... one was determined, inventive, caused problems for the opposition and operated as a team. The other was (at best) shambolic at times, very unprofessional, looked like a team of individuals, causing problems for themselves.
AFCB: Stewart, Telfer, Cooper, Gowling, Golbourne, Gradel, Karacan, Hollands, Cummings, Bradbury, Pitman
Subs: Pryce, Bartley, Davidson, J Pearce (on for Karacan, 114), McQuoid (for Cummings 68)
Andy Burton, Portsmouth