Garry was replaced by Cooper, and Pugh moved inside to partner McQuoid. Robinson started wide right; Feeney on the left. Cherries k.o. towards the South End and immediately won a corner; some fans sat back expecting a goal picnic. A free straight after was wasted, then Robinson was through and slid it in but a.n.other was flagged offside. This was a very good start; however, I muttered to Exiles Chairman Steve Hunt on my right, “I know it’s early days, but this dominance needs to be turned into goals”. Sure enough, a free 25 yards out from the home goal deflected off a defender’s head leaving Jalal flat-footed. 0-1, 16. Unfortunate, and it meant the sides were now equal in play, neither side dominant. Wiggins did some superb things on the left – speed, passing, crossing, defending. But U’s were well-organised. Feeney went up front with Pugh going left. Smith put in 2 good crosses. Feeney won the ball at inside-right and went through but the shot was weak. A headed clearance gave a corner to U’s; the half fizzled out. HT 0-1
An early Cherries corner was wasted – too far. U’s were niggly; Cooper was calm & tidy throughout. Fletcher replaced Bartley on 53; fair play to the big man – his control, passing & heading are better now than earlier in his career. But the U’s central pairing at the back was tall & experienced. Feeney went back right, Pugh left. From then on, Fletcher had 2 on him in the away area. U’s were slow at dead-ball situations, & had 2 more yellows (the original for a pull-back on Pugh in the first half). Pugh thumped a hefty free at the keeper; Pugh tried all his tricks but it never quite came off for him. Smith went pronate in the corner of the area – but no pen; this incensed the North & East stands. The ref. held up his watch to acknowledge the slow play tactics.
Smith went down again; Fletcher’s headers & presence was almost making the difference. The away area saw pinball, but Cooper was sitting on the grass in the middle of the field. Bradbury replaced him immediately (68) and went alongside Pearce –who so far had been commanding & positive. A free saw a header over; then U’s went through but Jalal went down well. Another attempt went over; it was one of those days. Pugh’s good work won a corner; the goalie’s punch was _just_ in front of Fletcher’s flying header. More good work by Pugh preceded Arter replacing Feeney on 78. But all match, the ref’s policy seemed to be that any contact by a forward would be penalised. Bradbury’s forward distribution was poor, especially long-distance. Suddenly, U’s broke down the right wing. Wiggins missed the interception & then was turned inside-out, with the ball slammed into the top far corner. 0-2, 80.
In response, Pugh made a good run & chipped for Arter to soft-head it wide at the far post. U’s came over as a moderate side, but street-wise. Arter seemed to be blinkered in his passing options – but runs weren’t being made as U’s closed the gaps. McQuoid kept coming out of the front line for the ball; Hollands & Robinson took turns to fill that space. Hollands teed up an overhead – well wide. Then form a right-wing corner, Fletcher came in from the spot for a low-flying header. 1-2, 87 & his first at the “Steve Fletcher Stand” end since that dedication last season. Sponsors made Pugh Man of the Match, but Smith had been at least as productive. Cheers as 5 minutes of added time was announced; at least the inconsistent official did something right.
Pearce went up front – not Bradbury, around whom rumours still persist that he used to be a forward. The ball rose up to a defender’s hand – no pen. But the ball was diverted to U’s advantage. McQuoid hit it long but over – virtually the first proper shot. FT 1-2
Such a result was inevitable at some time. I thought back to our first-ever season in Div.4, with Scunthorpe winning here 0-2, the centre-half Stephen Deere scoring both goals & a seeming 10-year-old Kevin Keegan playing right midfield, and Tony Field nipping in for the only goal of the game for Southport’s win here. Football smiles in your eyes and knifes you in the ribs.
Bartley had not dominated; this was largely through the “unique” formation the U’s manager John Ward used, mainly keeping the 2 banks of 4 closer together, so the central midfield pair sat deeper than usual. This meant Bartley could not boss, & Robinson could not pick up the pieces. One of this pair, blond-haired David Perkins, was a ruddy nuisance last season against Cherries for Spireites & proved much the same in this game. Not to be confused with that wonderful old blues pianist, Pinetop Perkins, this was pint-sized Perkins. The loudmouth behind my left shoulder referred to him throughout as “albino”, & also never has a good word for Feeney, much of it unfair. But let’s be blunt – Feeney is not delivering. Perhaps bring back Purches, with Smith going to right-wing? Hollands had a good game individually, but he & Robinson seemed not to gel as well as other pairings. Perhaps this was another reason for Robinson to seem less than effective. The Pugh/McQuoid pairing did not work this time; even worse was the McQuoid/Feeney duo. McQuoid has had decent efforts in this & the previous game, & will end the scoring drought soon if he stays perky. Nevertheless, any home fan would have been well-happy with 4th place at the beginning of the season.
Most fans see their team through rose-tinted glasses, with the other team being a bunch of villains. With that perspective in mind, it did seem that U’s were a little more robust; a perception of leading (if not flying) elbows in the first half and of little pushes in the 2nd. But Cherries have not gone from -17 points in August 2008 to 22 from 14 in a higher division without being robust, so perhaps today the home side needed to be a little more cute & street-wise. Eddie Howe could “take care of himself” without being dirty; U’s were no worse than many sides so this is not an excuse for the defeat nor condoning foul play – the side just has to adapt. Certainly the away management had sussed the home system.
That’s one lesson to be learned. Another is for match correspondents to not drop names in reports.
It would be remiss to not make mention of the passing on of John Benson. A John Bond signing from Torquay, he was a tough-tackling left-side central defender or defensive midfielder (wing-half in old money). Yes, he presided over the worst times on (& possibly off) the pitch in the 70s (in older fans’ memories possibly worse than the K.Bond & J.Quinn era), but he never lacked for effort on the pitch or in the manager’s seat, usually having to try to make a penny do a pound’s work. He was a real servant to football for many clubs in many roles.
Adam Smith; for all his good work, Pugh didn't quite deliver. Smith was on the case all game long.
AFCB: Jalal, Smith, Cooper, Pearce, Wiggins, Feeney, Bartley, Hollands, Pugh, Robinson, McQuoid
Subs: Stewart, Purches, Cummings, Taylor, Fletcher (on for Bartley, 53 mins), Bradbury (for Cooper, 68 mins), Arter (for Feeney, 78 mins)