I’m an old traditionalist who would rather stand behind the goal on the few traditional terraces that still exist, but with today’s weather discretion had to be the better part of valour and we retreated to the covered stand (and a particularly poor view between the pillars). Even intrepid club photographer (and Exiles founder) Mick Cunningham soon retired to the cover from the persistent downpour.
The game started well for the Cherries with plenty of possession and some nice passing, admittedly mostly in the middle of the pitch, but with no hint of the defensive horrors to come. Indeed, Surman created an early chance for Hayter with a good through ball but James continued his run of poor form in front of goal with a weak shot against keeper Roche.
The home side didn’t appear to have too much to offer so it was a surprise when on 27 minutes a long punt from Roche was not dealt with by Josh Gowling on the edge of the box and Allison was able to put Larkin in for a neat finish past Neil Moss.
The goal, against the run of play and from a route one hoof, unsettled the visitors and appeared to give the Spireites confidence as they proceeded to create a number of half-chances, notably from Allott and Larkin, with Bournemouth having a half‑hearted shout for a penalty when Gowling went down in the area.
HT: 1-0
Sean O’Driscoll made changes to personnel and formation at half time with Stephen Foley coming on at left wing-back in a 3-5-2 formation, replacing Callum Hart. Foley appears to be the smallest yet of the numerous short-arse midfielders that Sean seems to like collecting but he did make an early break down the line - only for his cross to fall on stony ground.
Eight minutes into the second period and the meagre home support must have thought it was Christmas when Stephen Cooke (another one in the collection) tried to perform a series of pirouettes on the edge of his own ‘D’. He was dispossessed by Larkin who this time returned the compliment, putting Allison in with a straightforward finish for the second.
We’ve come back from two down before but it was never going to happen today. The Cherries looked what they are: a young, inexperienced team lacking in confidence. The passes started to go astray and when this happens we do look a poor team.
Browning decided to join in with the defensive lapses by selling Gareth Stewart short with a very poor back-pass. Luckily Stewart just beat the onrushing striker to the ball.
Despite some excellent support from the small but very vocal visiting Cherries faithful there was no coming back. Steve Fletcher replaced the disappointing Stock but failed to make any impression at all. It emerged later that Fletch was only on the bench because we didn’t have anybody else and that he’s going in for an exploratory operation on his troubled knee next week, so perhaps I shouldn’t be too harsh (for a change!)
The humiliation was complete with just over 10 minutes to go after Neil Young conceded a free kick on the edge of his own penalty area. With Stewart trying to line up the ‘wall’, who seemed to be more interested in discussing which nightclub they were going to when they got back home, Nicholson got the nod from the referee and took a quick one, slotting the ball into the corner of the net. I would say that this killed off the game, but in all honesty it was dead and buried long before that.
On the way out a number of visiting supporters were very critical of the performance of the referee Mr Boyeson but I don’t really think that if he and his linesmen had donned red shirts and joined in on the Bournemouth side they could have done anything to help a woeful performance.
Gowling – possibly his only disappointing performance so far but still more class than anybody else in the side AFCB: Stewart, O'Connor, Gowling, Young, Hart, Surman, Stock, Browning, Cooke, Hayter, Rodrigues
Subs: Fletcher (on for Stock 70, Foley (on for Hart, 45), Hudson, Pitman, Whisken
Clive Loader, Wimbledon