Boosted no doubt by Eddie Howe's unsurprising rejection of a move to what is currently the South Coast's sixth best league club, the Reds kicked off in a 4-1-4-1 formation with the in-form McQuoid as lone striker and Cooper pulling the strings in front of the back four.
If the visitors hoped to disrupt us by making us kick towards the home end, they could claim some success, as we conspicuously failed to get into our stride. For a good half an hour, our passing game continually misfired against a well drilled defence despite plenty of possession and some great battling by Bartley. With both wide men (Pugh and Feeney) getting poor service and McQuoid isolated, we never threatened the visitors' goal. In fact, the Daggers had the best chances with Tomlin heading over when he should have hit the target and another header going just wide. As we neared the break, it looked as if Eddie would have to come up with
something in his half-time talk.
But then things changed dramatically when we won a corner on the right, swung in left-footed by Wiggins. The ball was cleared out to Cooper who found Wiggins again on the right. The left-back looked more like a right-winger as he scampered to the bye-line before whipping the ball into the six yard box where Doe couldn't help knocking the ball over the line under pressure from Pearce.
To be honest, you couldn't say the goal had been coming! However, Wiggins really had the bit between his teeth now and the celebrations had barely died down when the former Norwich man dispossessed Green on the left, accelerated away and delivered a perfect cross on the run for the diving McQuoid to head home in spectacular fashion in a style reminiscent of Ted McDougall.
A great goal, the lad's fifth in four starts! As the half-time whistle blew, it seemed incredible that we were two-nil up, but there you go....
HT: 2-0
With the two-goal cushion, the Cherries produced a much more assured performance in the second period and more goals looked on the cards. With barely ten minutes gone, Bradbury broke forward, exchanging passes with Robinson on the edge of the box before finding Wiggins on the left. Showing great composure, the full back took a touch before drilling an unstoppable low drive into the far corner for the first goal of his career.
Surely that goal would put the result beyond doubt, but with memories of the Notts County game still fresh it was important not to give the visitors a toe-hold in the game. And it took an outstanding save by Jalal to preserve the clean sheet when he blocked a point-blank effort by Nurse with his feet.
That apart, the hosts were now in full control and playing possession football to a chorus of Olés from the home crowd. Hollands came on for McQuoid and came close with an ambitious volley. Pugh tried hard to get on the score sheet but was frustrated by the linesman's flag.
In the end, it was a comfortable win, and one achieved with proper football.
Hard to choose between Bartley, who had another outstanding game, McQuoid, who has been a revelation this season, and Wiggins. But I'll give it to Wiggins who was instrumental in the first two goals and netted an excellent third himself.
AFCB: Jalal, Bradbury, Pearce, Garry, Wiggins, Cooper, Bartley, Robinson, Feeney, Pugh, McQuoid
Subs: Cummings, Partington, Stockley, Fletcher, Hollands (for McQuoid, 70 mins), Arter (for Bartley, 80 mins), Taylor (for Garry, 89 mins)
Ellis Griffin, Chertsey