Conference North Side Barrow AFC were without a win in 9 matches, while the Cherries no sooner had the draw been made then the excuses were being made.
The build up of the game was dominated by AFC Bournemouth’s manager Kevin Bond’s calls for regionalising the first two rounds of the FA Cup. An idea that all the Radio Solent pundits dismissed during the pre game discussions.
A six hundred and thirty mile round trip was the reason behind Bond’s claims, but long trips, bumpy, cold and dark pitches all add to what is known as the magic of the FA Cup.
With Darren Anderton missing through injury it was left for the out of form Paul Telfer to lead the side out.
Reading duo Pearce and Henry were cup-tied by Reading, which meant for our own Jason Pearce to return to the starting line up. Brett Pitman lined up on the wing with Sam Vokes replacing the suspended Lee Bradbury.
With so many players missing for various reasons and a cold northern blustery pitch, this really was one of those clichéd games, known as a potential banana skin and so it proved.
The home side dominated large periods of the game, with Neil Moss keeping the Cherries in it inside the first 15 minutes, however moments later Kevin Rapley put Barrow into what the ‘experts’ will call a shock lead.
Barrow pushed on for more, but against the run of play the Cherries picked up an equaliser through Reading midfield dynamo Jem Karacan on the stroke of half time.
The second half continued in the same vein as the first with very few chances for the football league side and with 20 minutes remaining Barrow piled on the pressure, but the Conference North side couldn’t find a way past the Cherries defence.
A draw at least puts the Cherries in the hat for round two and a replay at Dean Court should be enough to see Bournemouth through.
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