#MKDons v #AFCB

As away days go – this was up there amongst the very best. The traffic was light and the optimism bubbling so the journey just flew by

So much so that we had to wait for 15 minutes in the freezing cold outside the Dolphin for it to open – I haven’t done that for ….well, I don’t want to admit that. Time again passed quickly as local lad Chris, who recommended the pub, met us outside

Several beverages and an unfeasibly large fish and chips later, we were walking to the stadium.

The afcb crowd had become sizeable and Chris led us through an industrial estate, a retail park and across a very busy road. We’d all been looking for the floodlights to help us get our bearings – how did we know there weren’t any.

The stadium was shiny, black and imposing. I searched for a sign that said MK Dons on it so that I could use it as my new twitter AVI – but couldn’t find anything – were they ashamed of themselves? No, probably not now, but it was early doors.

The reputation of the seats in the stadium went before them. Wide, deep and padded it felt like we were at home in our armchairs. Maybe that was the reason for so little noise, it was almost too comfortable.

We were, however, soon having to lever ourselves out of them, put down the paper and brandy , smooth down our smoking jackets and cheer like mad as an horrendous back pass had Grabban through one on one. As he rounded the keeper we, as one, all thought – for God’s sake hit the target this time, not like Crewe. This he did and we were one up after 9

This spurred  MK on and we were presented with a display of passing and ball retention. That said, they never quite seemed able to put in that killer ball or shot and most of the play was contained to the middle of the park.

Chances therefore were few and far between but despite MK’s possession superiority, it was Bournemouth that carved out more chances. Arter and Pugh both had good shooting chances, wide and at the keeper respectively and we had to wait until the 42^nd minute before Jalal was called into action, a smart save to his right.

Then came the pivotal few minutes, having previously failed to effectively kick and elbow Elphick, striker Lowe finally got his man with a potentially career ending 2 footed lunge at Elphick’s leg. A straight red – and deservedly so.

Elphick had to go off so Seabourne moved to CB and new boy Ritchie went to LB. Now I was really looking forward to seeing him play – but not there and certainly not in these circumstances.

In time being played because of this assault, a long ball was sent up to Grabban. He shrugged off 2 defenders and his shot was well saved by the keeper’s foot but unfortunately for him it spilled into the path of the on-rushing Pugh who fired it into the roof of the net

HT 0-2

Second half and MK came out with fire in their bellies. For 15 minutes they really came at Bournemouth and put them under a lot of pressure.

The closest they came was a shot that beat Jalal on 70 minutes to his left but rebounded off the post and went across the goal. Their second attacker then conspired to miss an open goal from 3 yards. I think it was at this point the lino felt sorry for him as he raised his flag to save his blushes.

There was only ever going to be one winner, however, as Bournemouth passed and passed, running MK ragged. And it wasn’t as if there was no end product either as Pitman, Grabban and Mcquiod all missed glorious chances.

And just how good is Matt Ritchie….. He looked class from the moment he came on and his crosses would make any striker worth his salt salivate in anticipation. I can’t WAIT for him to be playing a more cavalier role – I just hope Grabban/Pitman rise to the challenge.

The game was finished off in the 84^th minute as a short free kick was rolled to Arter 30 yards out just left of the penalty area. He moved it forward a couple of yards before lashing a shot into the top right corner. Unstoppable.

Summary – we really are beginning to look the real deal. The team have spirit and are playing for each other – never demonstrated more than when Lowe became the villain of the piece. Ritchie looks to be a fantastic buy – if we can get Elphick back we might just take the league by storm

Star Performer – Cook – Rock solid at the back under aerial bombardment and brought Seabourne into line as if he’d been there all the time