Daniels spot-kick brings down curtain on dull year

It was a fitting end to the season. Not a great deal of entertainment and passion, no forwards scoring or looking like scoring, no wing play that got people off their seats, and no goals from open play! Anything else would have somehow felt wrong...

The main difference to the rest of the season was we had a goalkeeper tall enough to stop us conceding the usual 'header from a set-piece' effort and a referee who finally gave us a penalty - Daniels almost taking the label off the ball with his boot leather.

Groves kept the same team as last week with Fletcher returning on the bench. The game started brightly with Lyle Taylor particularly prominent bursting past two before firing narrowly over from a tight angle and then flashing a volley from Francis's cross narrowly wide. Pugh then cut in and curled a drive inches over but that was the end of any meaningful action.

The game then descended into typical end of season fayre with the teams taking it in turns to move slowly up the pitch before messing the end product up with poor crossing and final passing. It was like watching two struggling basketball teams. Bournemouth were giving the ball away with increasing frequency and when we did have periods of dominance it involved a lot of quick passing triangles followed by a loose through ball or fluffed cross.

This went on for that long that when the tannoy announcer said there was a car needing moving I can't have been alone in hoping it was my number plate that was going to get announced. Sadly it wasn't though and I was in situ for PNE's only shot of the match - Ehmer's thumping snap-shot bringing out a top drawer full length save from Jalal.

HT Bournemouth 0 PNE 0

The second half was like the first with all the action condensed into a small period at the beginning. Taylor was put clean through on the right but bizarrely opted to cut back inside when he had an opportunity to drive across the keeper. This saw him blocked but when Mcdermott spun on the corner of the penalty area he was needlessly tripped and the referee pointed to the spot. DANIELS nearly took the net out with his barnstorming effort to give the Cherries the lead.

This heralded a spell of confident play with Macdonald at the centre but again the end balls were frustratingly poor. Fletcher then came on to a standing ovation, along with Wakefield for Taylor and Mcdermott. The crowd were willing the big-man to score and he had his only chance when Thomas fired hard across goal from his own turn and run but the returning hero air-kicked at the crucial moment.

And so the game played out in a nature fitting of the season. The odd bit of flattering to deceive that disappeared in sea of poorly delivered set pieces and final balls. There was no goal for Fletch, no shots to savour and if ever you wanted an epitome moment it came when Thomas, clean through and bearing down on an expectant North Stand and a nervous keeper, looked up and..................... fell clean over.

FT Bournemouth 1 PNE 0

Jalal 7 - Confident claiming, monster kicking and one great save.

Francis 6 - Good running - suspect end product.

Zubar 7 - Strong defending and great distribution.

Addison 7 - Resolute and reads game exceptionally well.

Daniels 7 - Up and down flank on his own - great pen.

Pugh 6 - A 70% performance in open play - poor delivery from set's

MacDonald 8 - Bursting runs, clever turns, good passing range.

Cooper 6 - Kept it ticking over without breaking sweat really.

McDermott 6 - Flatters to deceive. Moments of genius - no end ball

Thomas 5 - Shadow of player that arrived. Poor control and finishing

Taylor 5 - Buzzed around with odd good cross field pass. No threat

Macdonald. Looking like the player that first arrived - very buzzy with great long and short game and moving past people to take them out the game. Needs to be the player in the hole though with two holding behind. Not one of the holding duo. Let loose he could cause havoc. Another soporific encounter. Eddie Mitchell needs to realise that above all we need entertaining. Its never been a fanbase that demands results but it is a fanbase that loves a good underdog bruising the nose of a giant with a frenetic draw or win. When people yearn for the days we recruited from non-league and gave it a right pop with flowing wingers and a centre forward and central midfield limited in skill but huge in heart its a bit odd considering the riches we now have and the talent of the current players.

Difference was it was entertaining - and thats why we pay the bucks. We were a happy bunch Fletch chasing down full-backs and Marvin putting someone in the stand. Better than yet another step over and flick to no-one in particular from players rich in talent but lacking in determination and love of the club.

Thats why the manager choice is so important - thats why the rumoured rubber stamping of Groves could prove to be yet another costly mistake we end up ruing. Again today it was insipid stuff of stop start nature with little intensity and no real evidence of training ground work. The last eight games would only have earned a contract for someone who already had it in the bag. Max Denim is the last hope for fans of passion and full-blooded entertainment.

On the pitch we didn't learn anything we didn't already know. We lack mobility and fight in centre midfield - the narrow left system stops us stretching teams and flying entertainment - our forwards are non-league. We looked resolute in defence though - which is the starting block I guess. Just not a starting block that guarantees 7000 gates. Oh well. There's always next year. Have a good summer everyone.

Report by Neil Dawson

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