Morale boosting win for Cherries - AFCB 3 v 1 Swansea

A few fans seemed a tad underwhelmed by AFCB's team to play Swansea by the look of some of the tweets on social media. I suppose Stanislas and Wilson were not in the team line up nor the energetic Harry Arter and Yann Kermorgant, but the starting XI looked reasonably strong even without those players and Lee Camp who was still absent. I wonder if Eddie's team was more picked on those who needed a game in their legs rather than putting out his best side as a rehearsal for next weekend? After all Eddie knows what each player is capable of and he won't want to add to the injury list.

That meant a bench full of young promise and I had my fingers crossed that all of them would get on the pitch in the second half. Swansea had not brought all their big guns but some of the fringe first team players according to their website and yet Monetro, Rangel and Dyer were not a bad selection for the AFCB players to be up against.

Cherries starting XI:
Buchel, Francis, Elphick, Cargill, Harte, Ritchie, O’Kane, MacDonald, Pugh, Pitman, Rantie.

AFCB subs: Matthews, Holmes, A.Coulibaly, Whitfield, Cornick, Stockley, O'Flaherty.

Swansea XI
Tremmel, Rangel, Tancock, Richards, Kingsley, King, Lucas, Sheehan, Montero, Dyer, Samuel

Summary
Commentary was pretty slow at the start as I think the blog running on the AFCB site was taking precedence over tweets. Still it was AFCB taking charge and passing the ball well in the early stages, pushing the Swand back. Then on 28 minutes the deadlock was broken as Marc Pugh headed home from a Matt Ritchie cross. It did seem like one way traffic for most of the first half. While the Swansea players hardly got a comment, Marc Pugh made it 2-0 on the stroke of half time and it was the Cherries who dictating things.

The second half was not long in starting when Rangel handled the ball for some reason and AFCB were given a penalty that Pitam calmly slotted away. He is now the top pre-season scorer on five. There was just one more goal and it went to the visitors after Dyer made a good run and Montero scored by wrong footing Buchel with Francis perhaps at fault. So 3-1 to the Cherries.

Selected Official AFCB Tweets and blog posts
The game is underway here at the Goldsands Stadium! #afcb #swans

Goal to the Cherries! They have taken the lead on the 28th minute thanks to a header from Pugh.#afcb 1-0 #swans

Marc Pugh scores a header from a Matt Ritchie cross on a quick counter
Goal to the Cherries! They have taken the lead on the 28th minute thanks to a header from Pugh. #afcb 1-0 #swans

Francis cross in Pitman chests down but Rantie cant quite get on the end of it

Ritchie with a shot from range and the goalkeeper saves easily

Good strike by Ritchie on the half volley. Hit it hard and low but Tremmel makes a confortable save.

Right on half time: The Cherries have their second goal and again it is Pugh, this time with a left-footed shot from just outside the area! #afcb 2-0 #swans .

Marc Pugh makes the most of sloppy Swans defending, and hits a rather weak left footed drive that beats Tremmel at the left hand post. You would have to say Tremmel could have done better

The Cherries have their second goal and again it is Pugh, this time with a left-footed shot from just outside the area! #afcb 2-0 #swans.

Ritchie looking lively in the first half. Swansea's young side look vulnerable in midfield

Half time at the Goldsands Stadium: #afcb 2-0 #swans.

Best players of the half Francis Ritchie Pugh

Second half
The second half is underway at the Goldsands Stadium. #afcb lead #swans 2-0.

North stand tormenting the swans Gk with the chant of keeper whats the score - Not a good idea (Chimes)

Montero hits a powerful driver past the post. Cherries goal kick

That shot sent a cameraman running to get out the way and protect his equipment!

Penalty!! cherries awarded a pen for handball

PPPPEEEENNNNAAAALLLLLTTTTYYYYY - just in case you did not catch it first time (Chimes)

Great work from Rantie down the right, his cross came off a swansea hand

Pitman to step up - GGGGOOOAAALLLL

Goal to #afcb ! Pitman steps up to coolly slot the ball home and make it #afcb 3-0 #swans with 53 minutes on the clock.

65 minutes played still Cherries 3-0 Swans with the Swans getting more attacks going but cherries attacking better

I feel sorry for the Swansea fans their team have hardly had a shot since the opening of each half and most of them look pretty bored.... although they are still having a sing song every now and then

Good run from dyer

GOAL for Swansea

3-1 cherries, Swansea had created nothing prior to the goal in the second half

Goal to Swansea. Montero pulls one back for the visitors, with his shot taking a deflection & wrong-footing keeper Buchel. #afcb 3-1 #swans

Francis with a sloppy clearence header and it falls to Montero in the box who shoots through Francis's legs and it rolls past Buchel who did not have a lot of time to see it

Today's attendance is 2,859 which inclues 349#swans supporters. #afcb

Swansea subs, Jones, Shephard, Bray and Hanley replace Sheehan, Rangel, goalscorer Montero and Dyer

75 Mins: Rantie off for Jayden Stockley

Second cherries sub, Ritchie making way - he is replaced by Harry Cornick

Two further substitutions for #afcb with Matthews and Muleba replacing Pitman and Francis. #swans

Marc Pugh has just been announced as the official MOTM

Stockley almost capitalises on a short back pas but Tremmel is out quick to gather the ball

Time for two cherries subs Ben whitfield and Aly Coulibaly on for O'Kane and MacDonald

FULL TIME: #afcb 3-1 #swans . A Pugh brace & a Pitman penalty ensure #afcb win their final home pre-season friendly.