#afcb 4 -1 #buryfc

Today I was childishly excited as it was the big unveil. No, I wasn’t looking forward to seeing how smooth the car park was, but in fact to seeing my Christmas present of a commemorative brick bought for me by my better half.

When I eventually found it, I discovered than more than buy it, she had clearly laid it too, such was the finish.

Now I wasn’t expecting the Taj Mahal or the Hanging Gardens of Babylon but surely they could have at least been cemented in properly?

This memory was made even worse as my daughter, @Eloiseee_Gullis, was looking for her brick and bumped into someone she knew. I thought I could cringe no more that when I heard her say “Hi, you’re the weirdo from the coach trip” but I was wrong as this was followed up by “…so where’s your weird friend”. Speak as you see, I guess.

Thinking back on the brick I think I can draw parallels with today’s match in that ultimately I’m proud that it’s there, rather like the result, but still have some reservations about its finish, rather like the performance…….

So, to the game. Bury had the first chance after 3 minutes as their number 7 headed himself through our “rock solid” defence (according to BBC Solent) but dragged his shot wide

While some of us feared the worst (having travelled to Bury earlier in the season) this actually seemed to awaken AFCB and after a Ritchie header was saved on 7 minutes the midfield snaffled the clearance and the ball went, along the ground, towards Grabban.

As the ball flashed past him we all sighed. I say all, but in fact it was all but one – the rejuvenated Pitman. He ran onto this seemingly hopeless ball, rounded the keeper and popped the ball in.

I’m not sure if someone has had a word in his ear, but from someone who has constantly exasperated me, he’s turning into a striker – that – wait for it – is part of the TEAM

Pleased as I was with that – I’m going now into my first of two criticisms of the team and it can be summed up in one phrase – “fannying about”

When you’re in a crossing situation, there is absolutely NO need to cut back and beat the man again – just cross the bloody ball. This happened more times than I care to mention

In defence, if there is ANY I repeat ANY danger of letting a goal in, you put it into row Z. You DON’T try to cushion a header to a fellow defender, that wasn’t expecting the ball, Seaborne.

On 23 minutes this scenario happened and as Daniels was easily beaten to the ball he wasn’t expecting, the cross came in and their 10 headed powerfully home. 1-1 – a great header

Yes, it was against the run of play and yes AFCB dominated the rest of the half – but the final ball was just not good enough OR it was easily good enough, but we didn’t want to shoot. That was criticism number two – we can all relax now

HT 1-1

The second half started with a Pitman cross that almost found its way into the corner of the goal but like an untreated verruca Bury were going nowhere and as Cook gave the ball away needlessly on 49 minutes it was he who went through the gears to charge back and make a last ditch tackle – phew

This prompted 5 minutes of AFCB pressure with a Daniels’ shot being deflected over and a string of corners. The last resulted in a cut back to Ritchie who smashed the ball home to the left of the keeper – and how he celebrated. I’m hoping that’s a huge monkey off his back and playing right wing (at last) we can expect even more, I believe

I thought this would mean a romp home for AFCB but this wasn’t the case. For the next 10 minutes Bury pummelled AFCB with high ball AND clever football and we did well to resist.

Just as I was hoping that the Nando’s chicken man wasn’t going to prove our albatross Bury changed their play and started just lumping people up in the air. Why? They were dominating? From one such free kick Pitman headed the ball back in the box and Arter charged in, controlled the ball on his chest and smashed it in on the volley (right footed) – thank Howe for that

That was the final straw for Bury, who finally imploded. The Arter goal was on 79 minutes so there was still time, just before final whistle for Daniels to rob the Bury defender as he tried to shepherd the ball out. The ball broke to O’Kane who crossed for Tubbs to smash home from close range.

Game over : 4-1

Summary: As I may have mentioned before, still too much fannying around but in the end we had SO many chances that we just had to capitalise eventually

MOM – Ritchie – Looked a class above everyone else on the pitch but I do want to give special mention to Pitman – a revelation!!!