South Coast Entertainment Sports Reviews

On an icy cold night with fine rain falling, a large tuesday crowd of 5230 fans headed to Dean Court to see if the return of Steve Fletcher could inspire another precious three points following Saturday's fine 3-1 win against high flyers Wycombe Wanderers.

The general concensus is that this team has enough fight in it to creep closer to safety but against a Luton Town team just getting their noses above the magical zero points level at the weekend, it would be just that, a fight. But as long as the team keeps going the fans will still believe in yet another great escape.

Steve Bennett begins the game and the Cherries try and assert themselves early on, possibly still buoyant from the weekends result. But then it happens. Again. Just like at the weekend when an unfortunate goalkeeping error gifted Wycombe the lead, an own goal on 8 minutes this time gives Luton a dream start. Luton had yet to knock the ball around with any precision up to this point but a corner led to the eventual downfall. The ball in was initially cleared but once a second low cross came in, goalkeeper and defenders were stuck in confusion and the unlucky Danny Hollands was credited with poking the ball into the net. Such a soft goal would have annoyed every home fan in the ground but the singing from the Luton fans, elated at something for nothing, was matched by the home crowd getting behind the team.

Little passing/running with the ball/creativity occured then for the best part of 20 minutes. Bournemouth edged it, but only possibly on possession. Little by the way of goal attempts had hushed the crowd somewhat and nervousness had set in again. That was until a break away down the right put a cross into dangerous territory. Big Fletch had looked to have fluffed his lines a little when his touch went straight into the goalkeepers arms, but with the defenders despairing and the crowd in anticipation, Danny Hollands made up for the own goal with a cracking shot over them all from 20 yards. Arms aloft sliding along the ground, the fans celebrated hoping this would be the stepping stone to more.

Following half time, a hard fought second half performance by both sides in league bother was due and delivered. Again little by the way of pattern to the play but Bournemouth had the best of the oppurtunites. Steve Fletcher hitting over the bar when the goalkeeper was stuck off his line. Then Jeff Goulding pushing the ball just too far ahead of him on the slick surface when through on goal meant a tense finish. It was Luton who came closest in the final minutes when a Kevin Gallen shot had to be cleared off the line.

Neither side would have been happy with a point as it meant another game goes by when three points were not snapped up. But in fairness to both sides this was just one game. Survival in the football league will be made with the run in from now and both sets of fans know it. An injury to Joel Ward late on would have been a worry but newly instated manager Eddie Howe would have been content, if not happy with a two game unbeaten record to take into two away games.

The two big men up front for Luton would have been good preparation for Jason Pearce and Shaun Cooper as Geoff Horsfield awaits, currently leading the frontline at Lincoln City. The home games will be vital from now until the end of the season and hopefully large crowds like tonight will continue to give the team a morale boost every week.