Maybe we underestimate the strength of this squad and the seemingly ease with which it has taken to League 1. The whole squad seem to have grown in stature over t and as a unit look solid. Charlton aside, we haven’t been outclassed yet and save for some schoolboy defending v Notts County, we should be co-habiting at the top of the league with Sheffield Wednesday.
In this game we started impressively, a 4-1-4-1 formation gave Shaun Cooper the task of protecting the back 4 and tidy up the pieces not dealt with by the midfield. We looked the better side despite our diminutive stature against Town’s big-guns, with some quick paced running down the flanks and long cross field passes that were finding there men with consummate ease. Feeney in particular was causing concern down the right flank as he forced the Terriers defence onto the back foot. Marvin was making some excellent runs from the middle of the park and was his usual tireless self in covering the ground.
Anton received the first yellow on 25 for what looked like an innocuous challenge and then a like challenge by Huddersfield went unpunished. On the half hour the Cherries were continuing to force the pace of the game and a quickly taken throw had Pugh racing away only to see his effort blocked for a corner. This resulted in a game of ping-pong in the box before finally being cleared. Feeney and McQuoid linked well moments later to create a half chance that was snaffled at the last moment.
Then finally the goal came. A surging run by Marv found Josh McQuoid on the edge of the box whose crisp shot left the keeper no chance. Seconds later he had the opportunity to double our lead when a Rhoys Wiggins cross reached him at the far post only for him to nudge the ball wide of an open goal.
As the half drew to a close more Terrier pressure was beginning to tell. The Cherries defence had been solid and were dealing with the attacks admirably throughout the half but deep into time added on at the end of the half, the Terriers scored their equaliser from a corner with Kay unmarked at the back post.
The start of the second half looked ominous as we were forced back and the Terriers attacking at will. The early pressure had the Cherries at 6s & 7s and a loose foot by Marv conceded a penalty that Roberts duly converted. For the opening 10 mins it was all Huddersfield with the Cherries chasing shadows. When we did have possession we conceded it straightaway cheaply. It wasn’t until the hour mark that we finally hit our stride. Marv & Anton working hard in the middle forced a corner from which Feeney produced some trickery and all of a sudden everyone snapped back into life.
Danny Hollands replaced Bradders on 64 mins who had moments before been turned inside out and the resulting shot came back off the post. We did have the ball in the back of the Terriers net from a free kick but seemingly discounted for offside. Pugh had been anonymous for much of the second half but came to life with a surging run from left to right but ran out of steam as he failed to decide between a shot or cross!
Eddie changed the formation taking the hard working Coops off and sending Arter into battle. A more attacking 4-4-2 formation and we were looking good again. On 79 we got our reward as Anton on the edge of the box released Arter to the by-line and his flick across the goal found Pugh to knock it home & make 300 Cherries fans very happy!
Arter & Pugh were now forcing the pace and making life difficult alongside Feeney still running with bags of pace. Into the final 5 and a rare Marv error let Huddersfield in but Jalal made a super save as he forced the ensuing shot round his post. Pugh then forced the Terriers keeper into a hurried clearance whilst Arter saw his effort drift wide. Deep into injury time the usual Cherries last gasp defending ensured a nail-biting finish but another point gained for the boys!
Shaun Cooper - tireless work in the first half.
AFCB: Jalal, Bradbury, Pearce, Garry, Wiggins, Cooper, Robinson, Pugh, Robinson, Feeney, McQuoid
Subs: Nelson, Taylor, Stockley, Ings, Hollands (for Bradbury, 64 mins), Arter (for Cooper, 73 mins), Cummings (for Feeney, 94 mins)
Nick Wallinger, Ickenham