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 24th
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 42nd
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
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