Bournemouth without the injured Partington, Bartley, Igoe, Moseley and Ryan Garry named just three substitutes although in reality only one (Connell) was ever likely to be used, Manager Eddie Howe spoke of the transfer embargo to the BBCs Football League Program pointing out that clubs are willing to help with loan players but Bournemouth are unable to bring anyone in due to the terms of the embargo.
As early as the second minute Jalal was forced to storm out to the edge of his box and block a shot by Robin Shroot with his legs, The Brewers were enjoying all the early possession and the lively Shroot was denied a penalty by the erratic Mr Singh when Bradbury made a howler allowing the ball to bounce over him, Shroot nipped in behind and Bradbury appeared to push him over in the box. A lucky escape for the home side who had barely a kick in the first ten minutes and shortly another raid from the impressive Russell Penn who skipped away from Cummings to cut inside but shot high and wide.
Bournemouth got into the game with Cummings making all the play down the left, putting crosses over for Fletcher but the big man couldn't find a red shirt with his flick-ons. On fifteen minutes some neat passing play with Cummings and Feeney saw the goal open up for McQuoid but instead of letting fly he tamely hit a crossfield pass. Burton continued to threaten with Penn repeatedly getting the better of Cummings who was saved on more than one occasion by the quick thinking Jason Pearce covering across. Pearce was leading the back four with confidence, both he and Guyett heading the ball clear from numerous Burton crosses and the steadfast Bradbury recovered his composure after his earlier error to put in a solid performance.
It was at about this time that Mr Singh attempted to get the record for the most drop-balls in a football match. After Anton Robinson went down injured Cummings put the ball into touch and eventually Mr Singh resumed with a drop ball that was launched into the North Stand by Harrad for a Cherries goal kick, but bizarrely Mr Singh decided that the drop ball needed to be taken again, this time Harrad belted it along the ground for a goal kick to Bournemouth.
The Cherries were lacking something in midfield although McQuoid and Hollands were battling for everything, the more experienced McGrath and Simpson had the best of it. Josh McQuoid was frequently on his own with no support and forced to surrender the ball. On thirty-five minutes a clever corner by Albion nearly undid the Cherries defence, taken short by Penn the ball was backheeled by McGrath again to Penn whose low cross was met by Shroot who blazed over the bar wasting the best chance in a poor first half which Albion ended the way they began it with the majority of possession.
HT 0-0
The second half began with Albion once again tearing down the flanks but the Bournemouth back four responded easily to the threat and gradually the Cherries got a hold on the midfield, Hollands Pitman and the impressive Josh McQuoid combining well and with Anton Robinson deciding to join in the Cherries looked a lot livelier, Robinson finding Danny Hollands who fired a shot at the so far redundant Krysiak in Burtons goal but high and wide. On the hour Burton replaced Walker with Greg Pearson who probably should have been on from the start. Bournemouth then changed things with Connell replacing McQuoid who'd played well. Pitman moved out left and Connell slipped into the middle and you could hear the groans from the home supporters. I can understand why the fans felt this was a wrong move, pushing your top goalscoring centre forward out to left wing doesn't seem like a clever change but it meant a 4-3-3 formation and clear intent from Eddie Howe that he wanted to win the game.
With twenty-five minutes to go Shroot and Pearson combined to carve open the defence and with Jalal facing a three on one situation Robinson raced across to scythe down Shroot and Robinson found himself in the referees notebook, the resulting free kick was headed wide for a goal kick. This was to be the last we saw of Mr Singh and his brand of refereeing, he limped off to be replaced by the fourth official who was the only person in the stadium to give the referee a clap.
On seventy five minutes Bournemouth were pleased to see the back of Shroot who having been booked was considered a liability by Pescesolido who swapped him for Jimmy Phillips whose first touch was a wicked cross that Pearce did well to get his head to denying Greg Pearson a header on goal. Bournemouth then swept upfield, Hollands finding Connell who delivered a fine ball to Feeney on the right, his cross was met powerfully by Fletcher but Krysiak saved brilliantly pushing the ball round the post. The resulting corner provided another free header for Fletcher but this one was yards wide.
Meanwhile play switched down to the other end Pearson worked himself a shooting opportunity on the right side of the penalty area, turning Cummings he left him flat footed but his shot flashed harmlessly past the right hand post.
Bournemouth survived further scares when Phillips ran forty yards down the left wing before making an opening for himself but fortunately shot wide. With five minutes left Pearson capitalised on a rare mistake by Pearce and his jinking run at Guyett into the box opened the goal up only to pull his shot across Jalal and past the left hand upright.
The action moved swiftly towards the Albion goal and with four minutes remaining Feeney charged down the right wing and found Alan Connell in a central position, Connell flicked a looped pass to man of the match Pitman wide on the left about thirty five yards from goal, Pitman controlled with his chest allowed the ball to drop and thumped a sweetly hit volley over the desparate Krysiak into the top right hand corner of the net, I doubt you'll see a better strike all season in any division. The home fans went collectively mental and nearly had a second goal to celebrate minutes later when a clearance from Jalal was headed on by Fletcher for Connell to run onto but with the whole goal to aim at Connell blasted the ball straight at Krysiak.
The win puts Bournemouth four points clear at the top of League two and the old cliche needs to be trotted out at this point, "if you can win when you're playing badly then that's the sign of a good team". It wasn't pretty but the winning goal was worth the entrance money on it's own. All credit to Albion who came looking for three points but were very unlucky to leave with nothing, they came up against a galvanised Bournemouth side who have an "all for one and one for all" attitude brought on by the embargo and injuries along with Eddie Howes leadership makes AFC Bournemouth a tough side to play against. A fifth successive league victory and a 100% home record is beyond most peoples expectations for the new season but long may it continue.
The Cherries travel to early season strugglers Hereford on Tuesday.
|
AFCB: Jalal, Bradbury, Guyett, Pearce, Cummings, Feeney, Hollands, McQuoid, Robinson, Fletcher, Pitman
Subs: Stockley, Tindall, Connell (on for McQuoid, 60 mins)
Simon Newsham, Son Of A Legend, Portsmouth