Graham Pearcey

Graham Pearcey

Blackpool 1 Cherries 2

Date: 13 September 2003

This match was won in a three minute period in the second half. Nonetheless, the win was well deserved for the quality of Bournemouth's play throughout the game. Not one of our players had a poor game, and in fact Elliott, Purches and Carl Fletcher had particularly good games - as well as Moss, who made some excellent saves once again.

The announcement of the team (no change from the previous Saturday's dull 0-0 draw) didn't raise hopes among the 400-ish travelling fans. We imagined (correctly) a 4-4-2 line up and (incorrectly) a 'spoiling' game. But in fact, Bournemouth were very lively, especially in the early second half. Blackpool's best period was probably the last five or ten minutes of the match, which was a heart stopper for Bournemouth fans and seemed to go on for ever! But no-one can complain we 'sat on' our 2-1 lead. In fact we brought on Feeney (striker) for Young (defender) after going into the lead!

A fly-past by the Red Arrows was claimed by some fans as the highlight of the first half! (Chants of "Red Army"....) The Blackpool goal followed shortly after this (in the 39th minute). A free-kick was awarded not far outside the area. After Broadhurst had allegedly shown dissent (though he wasn't booked for it) the referee moved the free kick forward 7 paces, which brought it to the edge of the area. A goal from here would have been effectively another own-goal for Broadhurst. But Moss half-saved it, spilling it unfortunately into the path of a Blackpool player who made sure with a neat finish.

Bournemouth's first goal was scored powerfully by Purches from outside the area. The second, within three minutes, came when a Hayter corner reached a crowded goal mouth. To us it looked like an own goal, but we subsequently learned that Broadhurst had claimed it.

There were other shots at goal from Purches and O'Connor at least, but the two goals proved enough for three points and lifted us to 13th in the table.

The starting line-up was (with my scores out of ten) :



Moss (8);
Young (7), C Fletcher (8), Broadhurst (7), Cummings (7);
Elliott (8), Browning (7), Purches (8), O'Connor (7);
Hayter (7), S Fletcher (7).



My 'man of the match' : Elliott.



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