Oct 6 AFC Bournemouth 0-0 Northampton Town Att: 5746

Last updated : 09 October 2006 By Steve Hunt
It was a slow start to the game, Northampton having the first chance when a cross bounced around in the box before being cleared.

Then Taylor stole into the box, but Stewart forced him wide and out for a goal kick.

No team could take hold of the game, but an Anderton cross glanced off the head of Hayter and wide of the goal. Anderton then headed on for Best, but he swung and missed the ball, but it bounced up for him to strike it poorly into the keeper's hands.

Jess tested Stewart with a shot, and a Purches effort high over the bar were the only other goal attempts of the half.

HT: 0-0

We hoped it would get better in the second half. A Jess free kick just went over after a Browning foul. Then came the miss of the game when Cole crossed to an unmarked McGleish who seemed to get wrong footed and the ball somehow went behind the strker, with an open goal in front of him.

Northampton had two more efforts from long range go just wide.

Then we had a great chance to score when the ref brought back an advantage on the edge of the box. Sub Cooke on for Anderton took the free kick and I think it's still rising now, that's how bad it was.

Stewart then pulled off a save at the feet of a Town player, and moments later pulled off a similar save.

Best had a shot on the turn which was deflected wide, and the resulting corner was cleared.

Kirk then ran clear into the box only to shoot straight at Stewart.

McGleish then had a header come back off the post from a cross from the left.

AFCB should have scored when a Young free kick won a corner which Town could not seem to clear. Harper was forced into a save and the follow-up shot from Purches was cleared off the line and then cleared to safety.

Hayter had a half chance go over and Jess saw his effort at the other end go just over. That's how it finished 0-0. How Northampton did not take all three points against a poor AFCB team, I'll never know. Best again could not stay onside, Hart (why did he play?) can't tackle or pass, Cooke: how does he play ahead of Hollands?

Man Of The MatchThis was hard, Jess would have got it for Town! I know he did not play at the start, but Hollands might have got it. However, I'll give it to Hayter who never gave up chasing all over the pitch.


AFCB: Stewart, Young, Purches, Broadhurst, Hart, Cummings, Cooper (Hollands 61), Browning, Best (Fletcher 85), Hayter, Anderton (Cooke 53).
Subs not used: Moss, Ainsworth.


Steve Hunt, Shaftesbury