This was one of my flying visits from to the UK now that I am incarcerated back on the rock in the middle of the Irish Sea & I really must pick my games better in future. Aside from 2 minutes of action at the outset and a closing breathtaking 2 minute finale the in between 84mins lacked substance, quality or really anything to write about so I could end my match report here. However that would be negating my duty as your match reporter so I will eke out those moments that potentially threatened some excitement.
The opening exchanges were frenetic and had the Cherries in the ascendancy. Newcomer Charlie Daniels was straight in at left back and looked good throughout, both going forward and in defence. Indeed it was his early cross field pass that had a Marc Pugh racing in from the right wing, only for him to squander the clear opportunity presented by side footing his shot just wide of the left post.
Oldham were sluggish to start but gradually came into the game after veteran striker Shefki Kuqi had an opportunity on 12 with a quick shot through a crowded box that Flahavan was equal to. The Cherries responded swiftly with Cook providing Pugh with an opportunity only for him to head high and wide. Flahavan saved a point blank header in the 40th minute and the final seconds of the half saw the key talking point when a scramble in the Cherries box saw the ball squirm clear and go towards the goal line only for Flahavan & Cook somehow scrambling it clear, although from our vantage point whether it was wholly over the line or not is debatable. My Twitter friends in the North Stand think we have a lot to thank the officials for!
No changes at half time meant we suffered the same fayre. Fogden tried to make something happen but his last touch or pass inevitably let him down. On the hour we had some end to end stuff to wake us up. Oldham broke with 3 on 2 but they overran the ball while we responded with a break from Malone only for it to run out of steam. Wes Thomas closed down the Oldham defence and won the ball in the challenge. His resultant cross to Arter was wasted with a skied shot. One observation was that too many times Pugh got himself into good positions but then proceeded to waste this with weak crosses.
With Sheringham & Fletch on for Fogden & Thomas the finale was set up and all of sudden we saw some entertainment with the Cherries maintaining sustained pressure on the Oldham goal. A minute from time Arter & Francis linked well with Pugh who delivered the ball back to Francis only to be crowded out on the edge of the box. Fletch tried a cheeky back heel to break the defence but failed. All of sudden the Cherries work rate had increased markedly. Sheringham had the best shot of the afternoon at the death when he unleashed a thunderbolt that rattled the cross bar with the keeper well and truly beaten.
Unfortunately too much of the game was non-descript with neither team in control. It was hard to recall a sequence of passes being put together and save for Sheringham’s effort at the death no one individual standing tall or providing that cutting edge. Thomas looked isolated up front on his own with Fogden ineffectual in bridging the gap from midfield. I wonder what Gregory is about as in the 2 games I’ve seen him he is a passenger. Arter was industrious as always and I liked the look of Malone on the wing. Star man for me however was the newcomer Charlie Daniels, a very creditable performance and a positive addition to the squad.
Charlie Daniels
AFCB: Flahavan, Cook, Barrett, Francis, Daniels, Pugh, Arter, Gregory, Fogden, Malone, Thomas
Subs: Jalal, Purches, Cooper, Sheringham (for Fogden, 72 mins), Fletcher (for Thomas, 88 mins)
Nick Wallinger, Isle Of Man