AFC Bournemouth 2 United 1
The 1,000 plus United supporters present at Dean Court will be scratching their heads in bemusement after watching their Gulls side go down 2-1 in a match that saw 12 yellow cards and a last minute penalty for the home team. United did enough to have won the game and when Scott Rendell put the Gulls in front just after the hour mark you couldn't see them being pegged back but the referee had other ideas and in his opinion it must have been a 100% penalty that he awarded in the 5th minute of added time - he was in a minority.
Bucks made one change to the team that beat Hereford on Boxing Day with Scott Rendell returning to the starting XI in place of Elliot Benyon who dropped to the bench.
The first chance of the match came United's way when Smith did well to win the ball on the left of Bournemouth's penalty area and his pull-back was hit goalward by Chris Zebroski but Jalal made a good save with his feet to deny the Gulls' striker.
United were on top in the early stages and from a well worked corner Nicky Wroe hit a left foot volley but Jalal was always behind the ball and gathered easily. Both sides looked a little nervy but United were the better side and Rendell tested Jalal with a low drive that the Bournemouth 'keeper had to gather at the second attempt.
Feeney on the Bournemouth right was looking dangerous but Adam Smith was relishing the challenge in what looked to be one of the important match-ups around the pitch. There were a number of nearly moments for United, especially Chris Zebroski, where a pass or flick header just had a yard too much pace on it but you got the feeling that sober or later Zebs would get on the end of one of them.
Finally, the home side had a period of pressure but when they got a Pitman header on target Michael Poke made a full length one handed save to concede a corner. Poke had had nothing to do for 30 minutes but, as always, he reacted in excellent fashion when called upon.
It was a competitive half and both sides had two players booked; Goulding & Bradbury for the Cherries and United's Nicky Wroe & Jake Thomson for a late tackle and kicking the ball away respectively.
A half not full of chances came to an end with United just shading it but both sides were going to have to up the quality if they wanted to take control of events.
Half-Time: Bournemouth 0 United 0
A change for the home side during the break with the evergreen Steve Fletcher joining proceedings at the expense of Goulding. The Gulls had the first chance of the second period with a Rendell header but it was too weak to trouble Jalal.
Wayne Carlisle was shown a yellow card for not retreating ten yards on a Bournemouth corner as the home side began the second half in a positive fashion. United though were also intent on pushing forward and a Thomson cross from the left was almost turned in by Chris Zebroski at the near post but Jalal cleared with his feet.
United were soaking up more pressure than they had during the first half but just after the hour mark they took the lead when Bournemouth couldn't clear their lines and Scott Rendell nodded the ball down to Lee Mansell and then received the ball back off Lee and from 12 yards scored low down into the bottom right corner.
Goal: Bournemouth 0 United 1 (Rendell 63)
Bournemouth tried to respond and Michael Poke was again called into action making a smart save at his near post from Cummings. Partington for Bournemouth joined the long list of players shown a yellow card - four from each side at that point. Fletcher screamed a shot just past United's right hand post but with twenty minutes remaining United were standing firm and on the brink of a fantastic result.
Adam Smith became the ninth player booked but in fairness to the referee he didn't have much choice with most of the decisions. Poke saved low down from Robinson after a rare moment when Bournemouth broke through a resolute United defence and Cummings was shown a yellow card for dissent as the total reached double figures.
Eventually, Bournemouth created a clear opening and, after United lost two tackles in midfield, the ball was slipped through to Feeney who rifled the ball past a diving Poke from just inside the penalty area.
Goal: Bournemouth 1 (Feeney 84) United 1
Three minutes from time Chris Robertson became the sixth Gull booked which should mean a letter and sizable fine from the F.A. appearing through the Plainmoor letterbox as well as a suspension for the United defender as he reached five for the season. Chris Hargreaves replaced Tyrone Thompson in a straight swap and Elliot Benyon came on in place of Jake Thomson.
Amazingly Michael Poke became the seventh United player shown a yellow card for time wasting as the booking count reached 12 in total, the action was now end-to-end and there was more drama to follow at the death.
In the last minute of added-on time Bournemouth were awarded a penalty after Lee Mansell was adjudged to have nudged Pitman in the back and the Cherries striker dusted himself down and beat Michael Poke low down to his left. It was hard on United because they certainly didn't deserve to lose this match and they were livid with the officials.
There were some conversations with the officials at the final whistle but ultimately there was nothing United could do about the perceived injustice they had suffered. You would never had known that United were the team in the bottom half of League 2 and Bournemouth will have few harder tests at home this season but all attention must know go on to this weekend's F.A. Cup tie with Brighton.
Full-Time: Bournemouth 2 United 1
