Stanislas scores special goal in Cherries' comeback

Match Description

Exeter City 1 v 2 AFCB
18 July 2015

Attendance: 2125 (360 AFCB fans)

The biggest question that fans wanted to know for the game against Exeter City was just who was going to play? They left wondering whether one of the players who missed out on much of last season is perhaps a better play than they might have thought. Junior Stanislas was going to brighten up the day for those who made the trip down to St James Park as his stunning run and superb finished capped an enthralling comeback in the second pre-season friendly for the Cherries.

AFCB arrived at St James Park to take on Exeter City with a fresh looking team. Rantie and King were to lead the attack while there was starting places for Federici in goal and both Distin and Mings at the back, along with Atsu on the wing. They were watched by a crowd of 2125, 360 of which were supporting the Cherries. Steve Cook was given the chance to captain the side. The Cherries had not had long to get over the-jet lag and some of their early play was a bit sloppy, but they eventually started to get things going after a first half that gave the team plenty to think about.

Exeter City Tweeted Picture: Steve Cook leads AFCB out at St James Park.

Match Description

The early exchanges saw the Cherries in control of the game with O'Kane and Smith and Atsu getting on the ball. Exeter's tactic was to play a few balls over the top one of which from Robiero was a peach of a ball, but just too long. Atsu was trying his tricks with a cool drag back but the Cherries were finding it difficult to test out Olejnick. Pugh went close having seen Surman put in a good free kick.

Pugh again saw a header just deflect wide as AFCB began to press more. Distin and Cook were getting forward and when Exeter broke they got caught offside. King and Rantie hadn't linked up that much in the first 15 minutes but when they did Rantie went too soon and was flagged offside.

Nichols put in a good cross that O'Kane was back to clear. Surman was directing play as usual looking for King and Rantie most of the time. Mings and Pugh were also working well. Rantie then saw his shot blocked. Then on 33 minutes, a surprise for everyone. Wheeler on the right cut inside and let a left foot shot go and it was deflected in to give Exeter the lead - 1-0! That'll make things interesting.

Federici was getting some work to do as Wheeler again tried his luck from distance. AFCB pressed forward with Smith but the Cherries were finding it hard to get their shots away. Cook was looking shaky at times. Communication with Federici is still a learning process it seemed. Pugh won a free kick 25 yards out in the centre of the pitch but Surman saw his shot turned round the post. So it was 1-0 to the home side at half time with plenty for Eddie Howe to contemplate.

The second half saw a team change and on come Allsop, Francis, Elphick, Cargill, Daniels, Ritchie, MacDonald, Gosling, Stanislas, Kermorgant, Wilson. McCready on for Noble is Exeter's only change. AFCB needed to play with a bit more accuracy but MacDonald's early mistake almost allowed Exeter to make it 2-0 when Wheeler was again played in, but put it wide under pressure.

Gosling then put Wilson through who shot with his left and the ball came off the post! Not to worry AFCB get the equaliser as Dan Gosling finally bobbles the ball in after 53 minutes.

Ritchie lost possession as Exeter's keeper put in a big clearance. That set up McCready who shoot over! Kermorgant was winning the ball back well and feeding Wilson, but a clearance see the ball go on to the roof of Exeter's net. At this point Exeter made three subs. It's not long before Exeter bring on three new forwards as well and Will Hoskins gets some game time.

Francis went on a strong charging run and crossed for Wilson who headed over. MacDonald was next to have a good chance, bringing the ball down but volley's wide. More Exeter subs flood on.

Exeter had a free kick which mcCready put over the bar, but it was AFCB who were pressing to win the game. Wilson pulled the ball back but could not find another AFCB player. A few minutes later he was just offside when through. But unlikely hero Junior Stanislas goes on a twisting run on 77 minutes, beating three players and hammers it home to put the Cherries in front at 1-2! 

Tommy Elphick came up and also went close but side foots over - could have been 1-3. Exeter had not given up and came close in the last 10 minutes. McCready was in the mood today and fizzed a shot just wide of Allsop's goal. A corner in the last couple of minutes from Exeter also was luckily not finished off by any Grecian player. Matt Ritchie had the final word and bent his shot just over the bar. Certainly a good day for the Cherries and a good outing against an Exeter side that pushed them all the way.

Exeter City 1 v 2 AFCB


A mixture of tweets from AFCB and Exeter City today

Cherries starting XI v @OfficialECFC: Federici, Smith, Cook, Distin, Mings, Pugh, O'Kane, Surman, Atsu, King, Rantie

AFC Bournemouth subs: Allsop, Francis, Elphick, Gosling, Daniels, Wilson, MacDonald, Kermorgant, Stanislas, Ward, Ritchie, Cargill.

Exeter City: Olejnik; Davies, Ribeiro, Brown, McAllister; Noble, Harley, Oakley; Holmes, Wheeler, Nichols.

Exeter City subs: Pym, Butterfield, Nicholls, Reid, Oyeleke, McCready, Riley-Lowe, Tillson, Hoskins, Watkins, Read.

01: The game is underway here at St James Park. #ECFCvAFCB #afcb

First effort of the game goes City's way - Tom Nichols had a pop as City win the ball high, but it's deflected through to Federici

01: #afcb 'keeper Federici gets down low to his right to save from Nichols' deflected early shot. #ECFCvAFCB

Noble concedes a free-kick in a dangerous area - Bournemouth take it quickly but McAllister snuffs out the danger

Another good bit of build-up from the Cherries, who are retaining the ball well. Davies clears a low ball in from Atsu

08: Smith feeds Atsu inside the area, who turns and drags his shot just wide. Still 0-0. #ECFCvAFCB

Nice idea from Ribeiro to try and pick out Nichols' run as he stepped out of defence - just overhits the pass though

12: Surman's free kick is punched away, before Pugh's curling follow up shot goes narrowly over. http://bit.ly/1Kd9qS1 #ECFCvAFCB

No goals to speak of after 15 minutes for Exeter. Bournemouth still seeing more of the ball and City not having many chances to break16: Pugh's shot looked to be heading goalwards, but takes a deflection and goes behind. Still 0-0: http://bit.ly/1Kd9qS1

Good block from Ribeiro to deny Pugh. The Cherries man appeals for a hand-ball but the corner is given

Troy Brown gets a good touch on the ball to block out Joshua King, who can't quite work room in the box

32: King backheels the ball into Pugh's path & the winger picks out Rantie, but his shot is blocked. http://bit.ly/1Kd9qS1 #ECFCvAFCB #acb

33: Goal to Exeter

33: Oakley picks out Wheeler, and his effort somehow beats Federici at the far post. #afcb trail 1-0

Oakley found Wheeler on the right, who cut inside and hit a low left-footed shot... it crept through the crowd and found the far corner

39: Wheeler's low effort from distance deflects behind for an #ecfc corner.

40: Rantie chases down a long ball forward, but it goes beyond him and Olejnik gathers. http://bit.ly/1Kd9qS1 #ECFCvAFCB

46: Late chance for Surman as his low effort is pushed round the post.

HALF TIME: #ecfc 1-0 #afcb

46: The second half is underway

50: Let off for #afcb as McCready plays Wheeler through on goal and he somehow shoots wide.

53: Goal to #afcb!

53: Gosling has his initial shot blocked, but the rebound bobbles up and he manages to bundle home. 1-1. 

Tom McCready hits a dipper of a half-volley from distance, but it's wide of the target

And at the other end, Callum Wilson is denied by a sliding tackle by Troy Brown - perfectly timed tackle

Triple City sub. On come Butterfield, Tillson and Oyeleke and off come Brown, Oakley and Harley

Nicely directed cross from Francis for Wilson, who heads over under pressure

66: Wilson meets Francis' cross but he heads over under pressure. Still 1-1 here

Nichols, Wheeler, Holmes all off... Nicholls, Reid and Hoskins all on

69: MacDonald takes the ball down on the edge of the area, before volleying wide.

Final four City subs. Read, Pym, Watkins and Riley-Lowe all on for Ribeiro, Davies, Olejnik and McAllister

73: McCready sends a free kick comfortably over Allsop's bar.

74: Wilson dummies his man & is through on goal, but opts to pull it back & no #afcb players are there.

Wilson has a good chance as he's threaded in by Kermorgant. Pym shows him wide and he can't slot in from a narrow angle...

76: Wilson is through on goal again, but this time the offside flag is up.

77: What a goal from Stanislas! He beats three men before hammering it home. 2-1 to #afcb

Goal to Bournemouth - Stanislas rifles in from the edge of the area after muscling his way through a couple of challenges. 2-1 Cherries.

81: #afcb are on top, with Elphick the latest to come close as he sidefoots the ball over the bar. 

Good defending by Josh Read to poke behind for a corner as Bournemouth came again. Chances few and far between for Exeter at the moment

McCready goes close! He fizzes a left-footed cross-shot from the right and it's just wide of Allsop's far post

88: A dangerous #ecfc corner is whipped in and fortunately for #afcb it goes behind for a goal kick

Matt Ritchie bends a shot from the edge of the area but it's over the bar

Full-time: Exeter City 1 AFC Bournemouth 2. Thanks for all your support today.