I joke about a 3–3 draw to continue the sequence of recent results, but the day felt good. Surely the tide is going to turn and winning ways at Home are going to come back with a bang. Michael Symes comes in to make two up front attack, the injured Cooper missing out. Charlie Sheringham on the bench.
The “feel good factor” continued as the Cherries made a bright start. Within two minutes they cut through the Bury defence for Wes Thomas to shoot wide. A great chance squandered. The attacking continued as Thomas headed over instead of letting it go on to Marc Pugh who was in space. Symes failed to control the ball when in nicely placed to shoot. Pugh denied with a last ditch block for a corner. With all these let offs, Bury started to get more confidence that this could be their day. Zubar was booked when he hauled back Bishop as he scampered into the Cherries half. On the half hour mark, Harry Arter went down with a calf injury, to be replaced by Joe Partington. Chances fell to both sides, though it felt as the better ones came the Cherries way, but not taken.
Then on 41 minutes a throw in from the right was headed on by Thomas and Pugh managed to get it past a defender and the goalkeeper into the net. Relief, jubilation, at last a goal. Pugh was up for it as he motored down the left, sent in a sumptuous centre and Wes Thomas just left of the goal, with the goal at his mercy sent it past the post. From the goal kick, the ball went up the Bury right, centred across the edge of the penalty area where Coke was in open space. He was closed down by Cummings but had time to send his shot into the goal.
I texted my daughter at half time “should be winning 3 – 0 but it’s 1-1.
The second half saw a change in the Cherries line up. Joe Partington who came out of challenge at the end of the first half with a limp was replaced by Wes Fogden. Purches to central mid field and Jamie Peters to right back.
Eight minutes into the second half, Bury are pressing, passing the ball across the pitch looking for an opening until it reaches Picken on the left. He centres and Bishop heads the ball into the back of the net. There’s 37 minutes or so to get back onto level terms!
Bury step another gear to make certain they are first to the ball because they are not going to let this chance of three points slip from their grasp. If they can’t get the ball, they make sure the home side cannot. The tired Symes is replaced by Steve Fletcher and the aerial assault from the flanks has an extra impetus. It is frantic but largely without quality. It is frenetic without guile, just the hope something may happen. A Peters shot across the goal and the unfortunate Thomas putting over the bar were the closest to a goal in the 40 minutes.
A game summarised by the Bury manager, Richie Barker. “If their finishing had been better, we’d have been dead and buried at half time.” Amen to that, I say.
And so to the drive back home, which seemed twice the distance it was coming down. Listening to Radio Solent and going over the comments and arguments by disappointed Cherries supporters during and after the game.
It all goes to show that goals mean so much more than actually scoring them. Psychologically they lift a side, give it confidence. To miss golden opportunities will test the aptitude of individuals and the team. For the side who finds itself let off, the encouragement to keep up the fight.
To the credit of Bournemouth, they kept at it despite the misses, but Bury, having been turned inside out for the opening 10 minutes or so came into their own.
For the Cherries, the flanks seemed to be working quite well, but the problems are clearly central midfield. Yes, there were three pairings through the game, but none was firing on all cylinders.
There was an intake of breath when Adam Barratt was announced “Man of the Match”. After all the defence had let in two well worked, but from a defensive view point, soft goals. Barratt puts himself about, but how many times are these to make up for the deficiencies of a defensive midfield? This can put pressure on the others in defence leading to mistakes or letting the opposition dictate the game.
I’m sure the Management were hoping to bring on Charlie Sheringham at some point, but replacing a worn out Symes with Fletcher was a correct call given the state of the game, even though equaliser never came. Jamie Peters did a good job at right back. A defence splitting ball by Wes Fogden for Peters to run onto was shear delight to behold amongst the frenetic mediocrity.
For the neutral observer at the game, I’m sure they would have enjoyed this game between lower half sides in League One. The last 20 minutes seeing the confrontation between two 39 year old senior citizens in the game, Steve Fletcher and Effe Sodje. Sodje won the encounter because Bury won the day. He plays on a fine line of fair and foul. Watching both of them is a lesson to all their juniors, they are committed to the cause and will do what it takes to achieve it.
For supporters, irrespective of ability, we ask no more than giving your all.
So to both of you, thank you for your example.
For 41 minutes in the 1st half, Adam Barratt’s efforts to keep Bury a bay were eye catching, but after that, does anyone really deserve nomination? I had a quick chat about this as the game concluded. On reflecting about the game as a whole, the greatest impact on the game came from the flanks, Marc Pugh and Jamie Peters. Pugh scored and had one other chance put out for corner. It was good to see him up for the game from start to finish. However my Man of the Match is Jamie Peters for his first half contribution but in particular for his 2nd half performance where he was in control at right back and linked up well with Fogden in a makeshift pairing.
AFCB: Flahavan, Purches, Zubar, Barrett, Cummings, Peters, Gregory, Arter, Pugh, Symes, W Thomas
Subs: Jalal, Sheringham, Partington (for Arter, 33 mins), Fogden (for Partington, at HT), Fletcher (for Symes, 72 mins)
John Harbron, Newtown, Powys