Cooper played a great ball to Purches who netted but was given offside. This was symptomatic of good movement. The 1st corner was to Bees on 19 – very poor. Even Stevens – neither side quite gelling. Bees netted after an offside flag. Cummings put in a 25-yard stinger, caught well, then made some excellent wing-play – but Fletcher headed well wide. Neither side was quite good enough. Best had a telling-off for a dubious push. Their ‘keeper messed up but Purches blazed over from wide. A Bees player dived in front of the ref, receiving an injury & also both a free-kick & yellow card against him.
Young had to defend well, then somehow managed to hook off the line, by which time home fans were celebrating the goal. Best was yellowed for a push, as he was covering back to half-way. Cherries looked slightly classier going forward, but HT 0-0 was fair.
Young continued intelligent defensive work after the break. Foley put Best clear on the right, but the shot was wayward. Howe was tidy as ever. Cooper appeared to be slack (the ball was just too far in front of him); the home player took advantage & Stewart finger-tipped the shot over. Then in breakaway Foley put in Best whose header was fumbled. Hayter was, in addition to his other duties, trying to organise midfield. Broadhurst was down for some time, but saw out the game. Then we had a good combination on our right, as good as anything Bees had shown. They did seem a little more fluent than under their previous manager.
Hollands replaced Cooper on 68, staying in the holding slot in a manner that Cooper should've done. Then Cherries reject Adam Griffiths was subbed. Best was free on the right again, & the cross-shot went just wide. Young shot high & wide, as did Cummings after some good interplay. By now, Hayter was wide left, but went up front on 81 when Cooke replaced Best & went in the hole to good effect. We had 2 corners in succession, followed by a 3rd when Cooke went on a run & shot well. However, the ‘keeper caught well, as did Stewart from another stinging shot. But that was about it: FT: 0-0.
A competent performance, never enough quality to take the game. Best has enthusiasm, pace & some skill, but needs to learn a lot – not least in laying-off. Sometimes he appears to have the brain of a kumquat. In contrast, Hayter gave a master-class (for this level) in link-play & tracking back. Hollands did well; a 2-month course of eating with Fletcher will give him the physique his holding position requires, as he can certainly organise, tackle & distribute. Cooper has ability, but currently not quite the sort to keep to a specific role.
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AFCB (3-4-1-2): Stewart; Broadhurst, Young , Howe; Purches, Cooper, Foley, Cummings; Hayter; Fletcher, Best
Subs: Moss, Maher, Gowling, Hollands (for Cooper, 68), Cooke (for Best, 81)
Peter Wicks, Greenford, Middlesex