If ever we wanted evidence of the shifting nature of football, a visit from Yeovil provides it. A few years ago they were the Beazer Premier side whose results we kept a look out for. Next season, barring a miracle, we will be in the league below them.
Today though the balance was temporarily restored as the Cherries despatched their West Country cousins home pointless after a generally comfortable and well deserved home win. We started with one change from Tuesday, the veteran Young failing a fitness test so Cooper moved again to right back with Pitman coming in for a rare start on the left wing.
Early goals are a feature at Dean Court at the mo and today it looked like Yeovil were going to get in on the act in the 2nd minute – but as Church drew the trigger, Pearce arrived out of nowhere with an awesome sliding tackle to precent a certain goal. It wasn’t to be long before the net rippled to keep up the record. HOLLANDS starting and finishing an impressive move in the 8th minute with a great ball to Gradel, the Ivorian cut into the box and when his shot was charged down Danny arrived on the edge of the box to sidefoot a measured grasscutter into the bottom right hand corner.
This one goal early start is becoming habitual and a minute later the ever dangerous Vokes cut in from the wing to rifle in a shot that Flinders saved at the second attempt. Following this the game descended into a disjointed melee of poor passing and mistimed tackles predominant in any lower league derby. If any side was going to score at this point it was the visitors – Guyetts towering header flying just wide from Lynch’s free-kick and in their best chance of the match Church squandered Woods superb through ball by volleying over from six yards.
At the other end Kuffour, who normally goes down quicker than a Swedish porn star, bizzarrely chose to stay on his feet when a blatant shove ruined a good scoring chance. Church blazed another good chance wide for the visitors and then Gradels cross shot was nearly turned into his own net by Flinders as the action sparked back into life.
From the resulting 37th min corner came the games pivotal moment – Cummings deep cross was retrieved by Pitman who fired in one of his trademark dipping crosses for VOKES to flick a header past Flinders for his 11th of the season.
HT Bournemouth 2 Yeovil 0
The second half started with another glaring Yeovil miss in the first minute – Peltier heading wide from a corner, unmarked and six yards out. Unnerved by this Bournemouth upped their marking and tackling and the next twenty five minutes saw no chances whatsoever – just a return to the frenzied mistake ridden football of the spell between the two goals in the first half. Credit where credit’s due though, it may not have delighted fans of total football but showed our fitness and work-rate is excellent as Yeovil were denied any opportunities to get back into the match. Despite making three subs and constantly changing formation Yeovil were kept at bay by a Bournemouth side that held its shape and discipline brilliantly with Pearce particularly resolute.
It took until the 70th minute for the next chance, Kuffour outstripped Guyett and crossed to the back post where Pitmans low shot was tipped wide well by Flinders. From the corner Pearces looping header dropped just wide of the post with the keeper stranded.
The final flurry of activity came with ten minutes left on the clock. Firstly came Fordes defining moment as he tipped substitute Owusus header over the cross bar and then pulled off an absolute wonder save to keep out Guyetts three yard bullet header. A goal then would have made the rest of the match uncomfortable. Our final effort came as Gradel picked out Pitman on the edge of the box and Flinders brilliantly fingertipped his curler wide of the bottom corner.
FT – Bournemouth 2 Yeovil 0
Player Ratings
Forde 7 /10
Kicks like a man in flip-flops but handled well and one wonder save at a crucial moment.
Cooper 7/10
Best match for him in ages, better on the ball and aggressive off it.
Pearce 9/10
His best game for the club. Towering in the air and the epitomy of thou shall not pass on the ground.
Gowling 7/10
Strolled through the game doing the necessary very well
Cummings 6/10
Recovered from an early knock to put in a safe competent shift.
Gradel 6/10
Not his normal match winning self but still a dangerous live wire and tackled back superbly.
Hollands 7/10
Scored, battled well, rollocked people – a captains performance.
Bart/ey 6/10
Aggressive and defensively superb – didn’t get his usual chances to go forward.
Pitman 7/10
Best I have seen him play out wide, where I don’t think he is suited. Fine crossing and battled well.
Vokes 7/10
Another ‘beyond his years’ display leading the line, a goal and another £50k added to his price tag?
Kuffour 5/10
Plays in fits and starts and looked a little slow to react today. Contributed little.
Tactics
Not much to discuss when your only fit senior players are all on the pitch.
Would like to see Kuffour on wing and Pitman up front but thats personal.
Also – we need to accept the fact we are going down and get the kids on earlier. We are going to need them next year so lets get rid of their nerves when nothing matters.
