|
AFC Bournemouth v Oldham Athletic – League One
Classic Eyes Stadium, Dean Court, Bournemouth
Saturday 5 March 2011
An early start helped us to avoid any motorway hold-ups, and Margaret and I were parked up by 10:45am in a side road near the stadium, ready for a smooth post-match getaway.
We knew from experience that there was no entry to the stadium by cash. The previous day I had phoned AFCB and been told the arrangement for buying tickets was still the same as before. This meant for visiting fans the Ticket Office operated from windows on the opposite side of the stadium to the away area, which resulted in a mad scramble for tickets shortly before kick-off. However, as the ticket office was open from 9:00am, the scramble could be avoided by buying the tickets before going to the pub. I had passed on this useful information via the OAFC fans’ official Forum.
So, practising what I preach, off we went to the ticket office. That was when we found out misinformation is worse than no information. We got to the ticket office window designated for East Stand away turnstiles only to be told that tickets must be bought from the office near the away turnstiles on the opposite side of stadium, and that would not be open until 2:00pm. So much for phoning the club!
On our previous visits, apart from when the Cherries were ground-sharing in Dorchester, we had met up with other Latics supporters in the Queen’s Park pub, near the stadium. However, this had been designated for home fans only. So a walk of about a mile was necessitated to find suitable food and watering holes, where we could boost the local economy.
After a 15 minute walk, via the scenic route through King’s Park we reached Christchurch Road, Boscombe, where there were some quirky shops, including one displaying in the window a curiosity which appeared to be an embalmed Bournemouth supporter in a wheelchair, with something picked up on an exotic island.
There was a cold North East breeze blowing but this statuesque beauty outside a tattoo parlour/cafe brightened up the street scene and made thoughts turn to summer and the end of a long football season.
I wondered if TV’s ‘Supernanny’ had given the owners of premises advice to pass on to parents.
We reached Wetherspoon’s Sir Percy Florence Shelley pub, where we had arranged to have lunch with Paul, who had arrived by train from South Wales. He was already sampling the good assortment of real ales.
The pub is named after the son of the famous romantic poet. Sir Percy lived in Boscombe Cottage, said to be the oldest property in the area, which later became an art college and, later still, the Shelley Museum.
On the way up Ashley Road towards the Stadium we called in the Portman Hotel, which we were allowed in, although it was designated for home fans only. It had a lot of connections with the Bournemouth Football Club. This was the place where in 1910 the team used the back room as its dressing room, and where in 1923 Boscombe FC changed its name to Bournemouth and Boscombe Athletic, before becoming AFC Bournemouth in 1972. Although the latter name is only used for trading purposes, one benefit of its use was to entitle the Club to ball number 1 for FA Cup draw purposes.
Now the pub is used as a venue for supporters' meetings and the internet had told me there was AFCB-related memorabilia displayed on the walls. This proved to be more misinformation, as the walls were decorated with a strange assortment of pictures more suited to a pseudo wine bar.
The place was buzzing with Cherries’ supporters, who had a confident air about them, not seen for some time amongst Latics supporters. There was a good atmosphere, a fine selection of real ales and a decent juke box which would have been improved by turning up the volume. As Paul was not driving, he was in his element sampling the ales, including Black Horse, Fortyniner, Old Thumper and Dirty Tackle.
When we arrived at the stadium, we found that the misinformation was compounded when no tickets were available and it was admission by cash at the turnstile. This made perfect sense, but if only we had been told in advance!
The programme for the match contained the usual article explaining about the Ernie Flag and its picture was taken inside the stadium.
Newly-promoted Bournemouth had been beaten at Boundary Park in September, with Latics climbing above them into the top six. However, since then the two clubs had experienced fluctuating fortunes, with the Cherries leaving most of their rivals trailing in their wake. One defeat in 13 since the turn of the year had seen them consolidate second place, even improving after successful manager Eddie Howe had left for Burnley.
Latics had failed to score in the previous five games, and a six-match winless run – including a thumping 5-0 home mauling by Peterborough seven days ago – had seen the them slip to ninth, with rivals having games in hand. So our expectations for the afternoon were very low – all we were saying was give us a goal! The player who had most disappointed the supporters was Warren Feeney, a current Northern Ireland International with a proud scoring record of 36 goals in 108 games when he was playing for AFC Bournemouth. Although this was between March 2001 and May 2004, he had scored three times in as many return visits to Dean Court. So, no pressure on the lad, as we looked to him to end the goal drought in his spiritual home.
The current financial plight of Oldham Athletic, with the players having not been paid at the time of last week’s home defeat to Peterborough, was proving similar to that of the Cherries in the not too distant past. After going within 15 minutes of being closed down, the Bournemouth supporters had rallied together to create a trust fund and formed Europe’s first ever Community Club. This had failed to prevent the Club subsequently going into administration and incurring a ten-point penalty.
In the first twenty minutes there was nothing between the teams and the Cherries looked ripe for picking, although Ben Amos in the visitors’ goal was the star performer once again. Latics gained several corners, but we have become accustomed to corners resulting in nothing more than a counter-attack for the opposition.
Then the all too familiar pattern emerged. Bournemouth showed how corners should be taken. Symes’ flick-on was headed in by Hollands from close range to put the Cherries in front. Once again Latics had failed to defend from a set-piece, and any confidence the visitors had built up seemed to drain from them.
The second half was less than two minutes old, some Latics supporters were still putting the world to right under the stand, and the visitors were caught napping as Symes was put clear to pop the Cherries into a 2-0 lead.
The dream of Warren Feeney making a triumphant return to Dean Court faded with his substitution and there was only going to be one team scoring in this match. So it was no surprise when Bournemouth substitute and debutant Lauri Dalla Valle latched onto a flick from fellow-substitute Steve Fletcher (the 38 year old Assistant Manager after whom Dean Court’s North Stand has been named) and smashed the ball past Ben Amos to round off the scoring with 10 minutes left.
The 3-0 defeat leaves our play-off hopes fading fast and makes us wonder how many points are still needed to avoid adding relegation to the Club’s growing list of problems.
The afternoon’s bright sunshine was no consolation for the 289 visiting supporters, as they were enveloped in clouds of gloom during that second half in which Latics failed to stretch the Cherries beyond a stroll in King’s Park. I was advised that he team’s failure to score yet again gave it the unenviable record of the Club’s longest goal drought since 1922. However, looking on the bright side, way back then the drought ended with the team beating Liverpool 4-0 at home and Manchester United 3-0 at Old Trafford!
Once again a good day out, and for some a good weekend at the seaside, had been spoilt by the team’s performance. But the philosophy of those travelling supporters is to keep smiling through , just like they always do, ‘til the blue skies chase those dark clouds far away, and one thing is for sure…..
We’ll score again
Don’t know where, don’t know when
But I know we’ll score again
Some sunny day.
|
