#trfc 0 v 0 #afcb

So it was coach 5 at 7:00am (ridiculous) - Manuel form Barcelona gave the safety speech (que?) and we were off

Matt proved early doors that he'd not lost his ability for witty conversation by the guy next to him tuning aside and using a multitude of highlighter pens to scribble in a text book.

Two minutes into the journey and a NUTS magazine fell out of a another's bag #lad - we'll all keep an eye on him - don't want him getting too excited too early.

We made good time and were in the Prenton Park Hotel by 12:30 and the bar had prepared well by putting 3 bar staff for Bournemouth's 2000 or so fans

A tad busy

To be fair their preparations were still better than that of the Mersey Skipper with an unprecedented 35 minute serving wait - thank god we didn't want food..

I told Matt to be a bit more aggressive at the bar, but he wasn't keen:

Come on Matt, grow a pair

 

Mersey Clipper

 

Tim, dressed as Bananaman, came up with the two best quotes of the day as more fancy dress revellers started singing - "They're so immature" said the 30 something Bananaman and quickly followed by "it's all right for you lot laughing - me and Batman (Blandford Phil) have to clean up after this lot!!!"

Blandford Phil and Tim

To the game...

The first mention should be to the crowd. I've been to many away games, but none had atmosphere to compare to this. From the pubs to under the stands to standing on the stands the noise, the humour, the passion was immense.

If this is a taste of what Championship Football is to bring - next season is going to be very very special

The game kicked off to a chorus of "we've got inflatables" as balls, balloons, bananas, sharks and dolphins appeared from nowhere surged to the skies.

AFCB quickly took control

A trademark Howe stepover free kick had Pitman in space in the 5th minute but he scuffed his shot wide

A minute later an Arter long range shot was well saved and as Pitman pounced he produced an even better save

Tranmere's first chance came on 12 minutes with a shot high over the bar from their 26 but never looked in control of the ball

On 21 minutes Arter picked up the ball just in our half and started running at goal. Good running from Pitman and Grabban pulled defenders wide and Arter, like Forest Gump, just kept running

If he'd scored instead of putting a knackered shot wide - it would have been goal of the season

Bournemouth were first to every loose ball and kept attacking Tranmere at will - I wish I'd brought binoculars instead of my glasses as the ball was never at our end

The best chance of the half fell to Grabban after just such harrying which had him running at goal ahead of all defenders

Just as we all thought he was going to shoot, the decision making of a woefully out of confidence striker kicked in and he dragged it back and tried to take on the last straggling-back defender

He was tackled, of course, and the half finished goalless despite AFCB's dominance

Half time below the stands was a time to be savoured. The roof shuddered under the noise of the AFCB fans and the Stewards looked on in awe - clearly unused to such a large boisterous crowd. It was like being at a gig with all the accompanying noise and excitement

The second half started as the first half ended with a 46th minute long range volley from Arter just going wide and 10 minutes later it was he again with an even better chance

Another run from deep saw him jinx past 2 but with every player beaten he lost a little more control of the ball until he'd passed the fourth and finally shot wildly as the ball was running away from him

Pitman had the next in a host of chances as he headed straight at the keeper from a Pugh cross

Ritchie and Pugh both had good chances blocked - this was one way traffic - if it had been a boxing match the towel would have come in by now

On 77 minutes Pitman was sent through and after using his "electric" pace he cut in from the left

McQuoid had come on for Grabban and was in acres of space in the box Pitman saw him there and thought "there's no way he'll score" and so rather than passing, curled a shot into the top left corner of the goal - which their keeper did marvellously to save

Mcquoid had his chance 5 minutes later though as fantastic work from Pugh and Francis on the right resulted in a low cross along the edge of the box straight to him - but he blazed over

Pitman vindicated, I feel

There was still time for Supa to come on to tremendous applause and in the 90th minute it was his head down that landed to Arter but the shot just went wide to keep my 3 season record intact of never seeing an AFCB win when I've travelled on the coach (sorry everyone)

Summary - probably the most one sides away performance I've seen but we were guilty of over-engineering chances with the final ball often being poor. The chances we did make, though, weren't taken and so even though some will rue Doncaster's late late late winner to deny us the title, we had chances enough to win 3 games. A final say to the Tranmere fans who applauded the team and our support at the end of the game - very sporting - what were they thinking of refusing to allow a trophy ceremony - not that it mattered in the end.....

Star man - Arter - was superb and yes there was the occasional loose ball but when that did happen, it was him that got the ball back

 

Team Warm up

 

Team Huddle

 

AFCB Support

 

Undercover Crowd Control

 

Tranmere - 1/3

 

Tranmere 2/3

 

Tranmere 3/3

 

On the Pitch

  

#AFCB 3 - 1 #CUFC

I planned a nice lie in but the excitement was too much for me as I awoke early, more nervous than a 70’s TV presenter on hearing an unexpected knock on the door.

The week had gone slow enough as it was - now I’d extended the day.

The car park was almost full so I knew what to expect in Legends – a bar full of people dutch-couraging themselves into saying that they were hopeful, whilst crossing their fingers hoping they hadn’t jinxed anything.

By kick off time the atmosphere was electric with almost every seat full and the Smurfs of Carlisle adding an extra level of colour and humour

That admiration for the visitors was soon dispelled, however, as Carlisle not only had the audacity to turn us round at kick off, but start the game as if it were they that were going for promotion

Plotting after being turned around

 

Had they not read the bloody script????

Clearly not, as in the first minute a long range shot forced a good save from  Allsop, to his right, only to be bettered 9 minutes later when a sweeping Carlisle move resulted in a shot from inside the box that was brilliantly saved to Allsop’s left. The ground he had to make up was extraordinary.

From then AFCB started to get a toe hold in the game but they had one big disadvantage, Grabban. I’ve been an advocate of him recently, despite his goal scoring record, but today he played like he’d never played before, ever.

His running was still there (good) but his first touch was terrible and his decision making was that of someone who hadn’t scored for ages – very blinkered

Carlisle were having the better of the game until the 24^th minute when a piece of Arter genius turned the game on its head. Surrounded and being hounded by 3 Carlisle players like he was the last Bacardi breezer in a Chav night-club, somehow he twinkle-toed his way through and past them, like the fat lasses they were.

A pin-point ball had Grabban through one on one and the crowd cheered for the expected goal corner.

The corner was given after the easy save and despite the hated (by me) short corner, it was (fairly) quickly crossed in and Cook jumped highest to glance the ball into the top left corner – very reminiscent of the header scored against us by Notts County only a few weeks ago 1-0. A classy goal to celebrate his recent birthday

This didn’t dispirit the visitors though and a succession of corners kept the pressure on AFCB with only the occasional break away warming the home fans’ hearts. One such attack had Grabban through on 29 minutes but instead of passing it to the unmarked Ritchie to knock into an empty net, he went for the shot. Ridiculous decision

Ritchie wasn’t pleased, the guy behind me was less pleased, and let him know, very loudly, and for the rest of the half

Too often AFCB were slack in possession and in the 42^nd minute another sloppy pass was intercepted on the Carlisle right. The cross was hit too high but when crossed back, their attacker smartly turned in the box and crashed the ball against the cross bar – a real let off

The half ended 1-0 with Carlisle wondering why they weren’t at least level

The second half started as the first ended, with Carlisle applying all the pressure. Then it happened.

A long cross from Carlisle was looping towards O’Kane. I’m guessing that because the Irishman’s vertically challenged, the Carlisle striker, dressed in green, looked like any other blade of grass on the pitch, as instead of just heading it away, he chose to let it go.

The “hidden” striker headed the ball back into the box and Miller brilliantly controlled the ball and smashed his overhead kick through Allsop to make it 1-1

Well, no-one could say it wasn’t coming

This was the moment – we didn’t know at the time, but this was it

The clapping started quietly at first, getting louder and louder

 barmy army, barmy army, barmy army, barmy army, barmy army, Eddie Howe’s barmy army, Eddie Howe’s barmy army,

Eddie Howe’s barmy army!!!!!

Goosebumps time and like flicking a switch, AFCB came to life

O’kane made up for his previous error with a fantastic last ditch challenge and from that, on 55 minutes, the ball went down the left to Grabban

His defender expected the ball to just ricochet to him, but not this time. This time Grabs controlled the ball, cut inside from the left and unleashed a powerful shot the keeper did well to keep out. From this rebound, Arter picked up the ball, cut in from the right and drilled the ball into the bottom right corner.

The place erupted. People were hugging each other, drinks went flying – the relief and joy were palpable

AFCB took control from here with crosses raining in from both left and right but just not able to put the final touch to them

I did enjoy, on 68 minutes, a moment when Arter was fouled but nothing was given so he grabbed onto his assailant’s leg and was dragged around the pitch like a petulant, tantruming child until the ref decided that enough was enough

AFCB were just seeing the game out now, until into injury time, when Francis ran down the right with the ball. I thought he was heading to the corner for a bit of “time management” but instead he slipped it to Pugh, who put Pitman through to finish calmly from the left, shooting to the bottom right hand corner of the goal

It oozed class, and was the cherry, on the icing, of the cake 3-1

Main Stand

 

East Stand

 

North Stand

 

Away Support

 

 

Close up of the Smurfs

 

Summary – An expected nervous and error strewn start was transformed by the Carlisle goal. It is so exciting to think that AFCB have gears they can go though to get the job done – and I don’t believe we’ve seen their top gear yet – I hope it’s Tranmere that are the first team to feel the full force of the mighty cherries. One last thought for Carlisle - they were a good side, playing good football - I have no idea why they have finished so low in the league

Star Performer – Arter – A midfield general with the touch of Picasso and the work-rate of a Siberian husky and a goal that brings a tear to the eye even now

Addendum – Having watched the Brentford game, we….are….going….up – did you hear / read that? AFC Bournemouth will appear in the Championship next season, with the likes of Forest, Reading, Boro, Wolves, Derby  and, yes, Leeds.  Tonight will be messy – Tranmere next week will be blur – let the good times roll J

WE ARE GOING UP

 

#shrews 0 - 3 #afcb

It was a 3.5 hour drive and I was regretting tweeting the postcode of the Brooklands hotel as everyone seemed to be getting there before me - they'd better not run out of food

Indeed they didn't and a glorious chilli was enjoyed

I even managed to finally meet Geoff Z's after many near misses and was shown Big Frank (not a euphamism) although I was told to call him Nigel

I did ask for a photo with Geoff but we just couldn't agree on terms so his anonymity remains intact. I also failed to get a picture of Blandford Phil's lucky retro shirt - but I daren't risk breaking the phone, even for 3 points

The ground was impressive with the tannoy blaring an array of 80/90's soft rock classics, somewhat spoiled by the DJ's inability to move from 1 song to another without a 10 second airtime gap

Indeed disappointing - but not AS disappointing as McQuoid warming up in a snood - as if he wants to make himself more conspicuous ...

I did however enjoy the use of nets for the AFCB warm up shooting - we need that at home games to stop the St John's Ambulance-men being overrun with Arter-esque injuries:

The game started brightly for AFCB with movement aplenty but just lacking some control of the ball

That was until the 4th minute when a Pugh Pitman 1-2 had Pugh scythed down for a penalty

Howe is sometimes criticised for not having a long term game plan. This was put to bed once and for all as it was soon realised that months before he'd clearly cloned Addison not once but twice and his proteges were now wearing 23 and 2 for the Shrews

They were the Shrewsbury Chuckle brothers, but no Shrews' fans were laughing now

It was 23, I think, that made the trademark clumsy challenge and once Pitman had hid the ball up his shirt until it was agreed that he could take the penalty, he strode up and confidently put the ball to the keeper's left 1-0

2 minutes later Arter was dispossessed as he tried to shepherd the ball out the last 40 yards and the ball was played back to he Shrews' best player, number 8, who had his fierce shot deflected wide

The half then descended into a very scrappy performance from both teams with few chances created but those that came fell to AFCB with shots from Pitman and Ritchie narrowly missing the mark

Cross of the half went to Francis who skied the ball so high Grabban had time to shave his beard off and grow another before he fell limply challenging for the ball

I am hoping that this does not become a pattern as when put through one on one he also fell over for no apparent reason - if his confidence is that low that he'd rather throw himself to the ground than shoot - I fear for him

HT 0-1

AFCB came out of the blocks quickly with Ritchie shot blocked well on 49 minutes but were forced to thank Cook's positional play a minute later as he headed off the line from their number 10

When I was a kid I had an action man that was called Stretch Armstrong that you could make talker by pulling feet and arms - this was their number 10

By the time he was subbed he was 14 feet tall with arms he could hug Willo (all the way around) with but I was grateful that threat was gone

On 51 minutes Grabban was denied another one on one chance as the keeper came out but his Jalal like distribution soon had the ball at Pugh's feet

Pitman took the ball off him 25 yards out an seeing no better option, went for goal

It was a curling effort that from the moment it left his boot looked like a goal and had the keeper flailing to his left but in truth he got nowhere near it

A fantastic strike - a wonderful goal from someone now notching his 8th in 7 games

On 59 minutes Grabban's pace had him through one on one again and despite being second favourite for the ball managed to knock it past the keeper and swing his chocolate kettle of a left foot at it - so weak that it was easily cleared for a corner

From that corner, Pitman flicked the ball on towards the goal and instead of clearing it, chuckle brother number two smashed it into the net

Now we all KNOW he's going to claim a hat-trick - but not even Derren Brown could pull that trick off

AFCB had several more good chances but couldn't quite top the performance off with a goal rush that might so badly be needed at the end of the season

As a contest, that was it. Shrewsbury resorted more to the long ball which was a shame as it nullified their 8 but the back 4 and keeper never looked in any danger

With 5 minutes to go Pugh was subbed for McQuoid - he'd had yet another below par game, but no-one deserves that humiliation , do they?

Summary - Without playing at their best, they were still way too good for Shrewsbury and although it's still not quite in their own hands - they did all they could do. It was as comfortable a win as you could hope for

Man of the Match - Pitman: huge performance all over the pitch and a sublime finish for the second

#afcb 3 - 1 #ncfc

So, having lost 5 in a row, we’ve won 5 in a row and to get automatic promotion we have to make that 9 in a row. Surely that’s too much to ask, isn’t it?

I’d taken the fact that I’d queued behind a woman wearing a plastic bag over her right foot and sandals at the ATM as a good sign.

Also Blandford Phil turned up in another stomach churning old #AFCB shirt and having done that on Monday, another good sign.

The 3^rd good sign and the clincher in my eyes, is that it wasn’t  MY beer that Arter hit with one of his warm-up shots – I could have looked at it that the shot was so errant how on earth are we going to score – but I needed that 3^rd sign.

The game started with Notts County in a rather fetching pink kit but it was soon Bournemouth that were blushing  a more furious pink.

Seem like lovely boys

 

A ball was slipped in on the inside of Daniels and County’s impressive Campbell-Ryce ran through and crossed to the unmarked Jeff Hughes who planted a header to Allsop’s right.

He got his hand to it but from the weakness of wrist which failed to keep the ball out I can only imagine Rocky is spending too much time alone since his transfer from the smoke – the boys need to get him out of the house more.

Bloody 0-1 after 1 minute – Bugger

AFCB responded immediately and Francis burst forward and after a 1-2 with Pitman forced the keeper into a low save.

It was all AFCB now and Pugh, Ritchie and Arter all going close and County were looking ragged giving away free kick after free kick.

On 16 minutes Daniels had a 1-2 with Pugh and fired a cross along the ground behind Tubbs and Pitman but there was Ritchie.

Bialkowski had been seen before the game studying shots from Ritchie and so, figuring the ball was to fly in the top corner, took off like an exocet.

Unfortunately for him, Ritchie drilled it on the floor straight down the middle, and under the flailing keeper.

1-1

AFCB were pouring forwards now and County were left hitting on the break through mostly Campbell-Ryce but the visitors were looking second best.

On 24 minutes Pitman played the ball up to Tubbs and whether by mis-control, a sneaky hand ball or a defender’s foot in, the ball fell back to Pitman who smashed the ball in from the edge of the box to the keeper’s right – Unstoppable

2-1

Pitman had 2 further close misses in the first half but when Boucaud fouled  Arter in injury time and was shown a red card, surely the game was in the bag

At half time, the crowd chanted for the lino to give us a wave which he obliged with a boyish smile – you make more friends with sugar than sh*t – maybe this was the North Stand’s olive branch

Second half started and for the first 10 minutes I had socks and shoes off to help count the players on the pitch as it looked like AFCB were a man down

It didn’t help that we gave away 2 needless free kicks at the edge of the box in the space of a couple of minutes which we were all grateful to see go wide.

Pugh was finding things difficult as their right back had nailed his knicker elastic to the side line but luckily twinkle toes Daniels stepped up to the plate and often bemused their right back after weathering those opening 10 minutes

On 62 minutes one such cavalier run sent him to the by-line where he crossed back to Arter whose fired shot was brilliantly tipped over by the keeper.

A pity then, that 5 minutes later when Arter burst through on his own he chose to pass to Tubbs rather than putting his f****** foot through it. Tubbs, typically, controlled the ball, then fell over. Never a penalty, a wasted chance – and this was getting nail-biting

County were playing better with 10 men than they did with 11 and were stretching AFCB on the break. Their strikers were strong and pacey and finding way too much space. Our midfield were sitting too deep and were a little guilty of ball watching rather than marking.

Saying that, I think that County were playing really well and despite AFCB’s constant switching from left to right and back, looked full of running.

Grabban then came on for Tubbs and MacDonald for O’Kane (injury) and the former was to be the master stroke.

Despite his poor recent scoring record his pace instantly stretched County and soon their defence was being pulled all over the place.

It was Grabban that broke down the right on 84 minutes and as the ball broke kindly back to him after his first attempted cross he passed the ball back to Ritchie who hit the ball first time past the keeper’s left

3-1

County were still giving it a go and had 5 minutes of late pressure which AFCB did well to resist and the parting shot was from Pitman who ran the length of the pitch and fired a curling shot just past the left post

Summary – The sending off changed things but AFCB were the better side 11 v 11, although it was a bit more even once County went down to 10. The County supporters should be proud of their players’ fighting spirit. AFCB fans should be grateful that with a few notable exceptions we are starting to shoot more and with that the goals are coming. AFCB need 3 wins and other results to go for us, but with the resilience shown today, that looks a lot more likely than just a few weeks ago.

MOM – Daniels – Today was doing the work of 2 – attacking and defending with footwork that Ashley Banjo would be proud of.

Many thanks to Louise Cornick for the better photography - finally this blog has some class

Away Support

East Stand

Main Stand

North Stand

Open Play

Spot the devilishly handsome blogger...

The children ARE the future (Hi Joseph)

Oops

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

#afcb 1 - 0 #sufc #iron

The day started well for me as I managed to convince Legends’ bar staff that not EVERYONE was enthralled by a Chelsea / ManU cup match and got one of the TV’s switched to the Doncaster / Swindon game

I make that 1 - 0 to me

Unfortunately Bournemouth first equalised by their North Stand bar people not recognising what a beer was, then they went 2-1 up as the steward steadfastly refused to believe he was allowed to change the TV channel to ANY match

In the manner of pundits, I’d started  brightly, but my legs went in the end and didn’t deserve to take anything from the game – I hoped AFCB would fare better

How good was it to see Elphick back, banging his head and studs against the goal-post. As he completed his ritual by running to the line and back he turned to the North Stand and shouted for noise – clearly he was up for this fight.

AFCB started well and Ritchie was soon a thorn in the Scunny side as almost his first touch drew a foul, and a yellow card – it was going to be a long afternoon for THAT defender

On 10 minutes it was O’Kane that broke through the Scunthorpe defence on the left only to have his cross/shot blocked. The ball came out to Pugh who crossed to the far post and Tubbs headed back across to the goal for Pitman to steam in and crash the ball home on the volley

1-0

We’d all prayed for an early goal to steady the nerves and hopefully be the start of a goal glut, but Scunthorpe had other ideas.

Having weathered a further few minutes of AFCB pressure (including  Pitman scoring again – from an offside position) Scunthorpe started to get more possession and AFCB started to sit further and further back, inviting them on.

Allsop was forced into a smart low save on 26 and on 30 minutes they had the ball in the net themselves from a corner as they blocked Allsop off and headed in at the far post. Thankfully the ball had swung out of play from the corner – the first but not the last time we were all happy to see that happen.

On 33 minutes you could almost sense that Arter realised AFCB were going flat as he charged from one side of the pitch to the other to put in a perfect sliding tackle – that certainly raised the team and the crowd.

Saying that, he did follow it up with a tackle that if he had connected, would have seen their midfielder’s legs fly into the East stand as his torso bounced into the main – well, you can’t time it right all the time, can you J

HT 1-0

The second half was a much more open affair which should have, and did, suit AFCB more, but not without some heart in mouth moments.

AFCB have also discovered, much to my relief, that running with the ball, actually at the other team, can reap far better rewards than a) trying to pass the ball as soon as you’ve got it or b) hoofing the ball over midfield and hoping the “magic would just happen”.

O’Kane, Arter and Daniels all had magnificent runs with the ball, but rather like discovering your Thai bride has hidden “extras”, it all ended very disappointingly – either with a shot so weak we’ll have to start counting back passes as shots or with a seemingly point blank refusal to shoot at all.

I’m not sure where this obsession for walking the ball into the net has come from, but it has to stop – we need players with heart and courage enough to take responsibility for scoring a goal. We cannot rely on Pitman and Ritchie to be the only ones prepared to shoot

It was these 2 that came closest to extending the lead as first Pitman struck the bar after Tubbs had pulled the ball back to him (even though Tubbs was clean through and in a far better goal scoring position) and Ritchie who unleashed a 20 yard curler that their keeper did well to save, stretching to his right.

Scunthorpe brought on their big men and play became even more stretched but the back 5 coped admirably. In fact the only 2 clean cut chances Scunthorpe made were from slips from Elphick and Cook but such is their pace and speed of recovery they were both able to get back and make last ditch blocks.

That said, there were large parts of the second half that literally were end to end as our midfield were mere bystanders as Scunthorpe punted the ball long. AFCB looked the more likely to score but at only 1-0 – it was a nerve jangler until the last few minutes

Summary – Yet another ugly win but I guess at this stage it’s the win that matters. I never thought I’d say this – but we actually missed Grabban. Sure, he can’t hit a cow’s arse with a banjo at the moment but his runs really stretch defences and he, for me, is Pitman’s partner of choice.

Tubbs did ok holding the ball up – but you can’t afford  to have 2 slow attackers at this level IMO and Pitman, who has really raised his work rate, is undroppable

Man of the Match – Arter – seemed like he cared the most and tried the hardest. Some superb runs and cross field balls, just needs to believe in himself more when near the goal

Ps - here's a link to a video of the day that @eloiseee_gullis:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3EKMyXvmYVI

Away Support

 

East Stand

Main Stand

North Stand