West Ham 3 v 4 AFCB
22 August 2015
Attendance: 34,977
 |
| Upton Park in the bright sunshine welcomes AFC Bournemouth to the Premier League. |
Well AFCB wanted to entertain in the Premier league and the fans that travelled up from the south coast will have been well satisfied with this roller coaster of a game that brought the Cherries their first points in the top division after a Callum Wilson hat-trick and Marc Pugh goal edged a seven goal thriller. West Ham also made this match a fantastic advert for the top tier in fighting back from being down to two Callum Wilson goals in the first half. Max Gradel missed a great chance to put the Cherries three up at the break but Darren Randolph made on of a number of amazing saves to keep the Hammers in the game. After half time it was the London side that played like a different team on a mission to get something from the game and when Josh King tripped Mark Noble in the box, the midfielder stepped up to make it 1-2 and the comeback was on. A following goal from Cheikhou Kouyate wiped out the Bournemouth lead and it was end to end stuff then before Marc Pugh cut inside to put the Cherries back in front with Max Gradel then winning the Premier League new boys and Carl Jenkins seeing red. The penalty gave callum Wilson the chance to complete his hat-trick, which he duly did. A consolation goal from substitute Modibo Maiga made it a tense finish but the Cherries had claimed their first Premier League win and weren't the supporters just delighted with that.
Jack gives an pre-match view on the possible West Ham line up.
The same line up from the Liverpool match kept their places while West Ham brought in Darren Randloph for the suspended Adrian in goal with Obiang replacing Reece Oxford and Kevin Nolan coming in for the injured Zarate.
Steve gives an AFC Bournemouth point of view pre-match.
There are more pictures on Match Day Gallery.
 |
| AFCB players do their pre-match running. |
 |
| The ground begins to fill up. |
From the start it was AFCB that showed attacking intent with Charlie Daniels getting forward and having a shot blocked for a corner. West Ham equalled the corner count up as Cook and Francis prevented Kevin Nolan from getting his shot on target on seven minutes. Winstin Reid headed in but pushed Francis first and it was disallowed. AFCB missed an opportunity to make the most of a float a free kick in to the box on nine minutes with Randolph making an easy take, but a quick throw moments later led to Simon Francis zipping down to the byline, picking Creswell's pocket and pulling back a short pass for Callum Wilson got in front of the central defenders who fired the Cherries 0-1 up!
West Ham came straight back with Diafra Sakho putting through Koyate but Boruc was alert to the danger and came out bravely to take the ball in front of Kouyate's feet. Max Gradel was an ominous threat waiting to burst down the left wing every time an AFCB player lifted their head up and could find him.
Meanwhile, Steve Cook was getting his feet tangled up a bit and just managed to escape with only giving Sakho a corner on 17 minutes. Kouyate could only head over though.
The seasiders were looking strongest though and with Gradel again let loose, Randolph took no chances in making a pitch long clearance just in time. Moments later Gradell was in again though having won the ball off Jenkinson who he out sprinted from box to box only to hesitate and see his shot blocked for a corner. Most attacks were going down West Ham's right wing and Carl Jenkinson was having a rough time of it, while the Hammer's left wing was more in shade. when Ritchie did whip in a cross from AFCB's right wing, Wilson just failed to make a connection with his head or it would have been another goal. Ritchie himself was happy to have a pot shot that went over after Surman had not got a shot away.
The second Bournemouth goal duly came on 27 minutes with O'Kane causing havoc in the Hammer's box before the ball broke off Creswell to Wilson, who lifted it past an out stretched Randolph for his second from close range. He almost made it three seconds later when he hit the side netting, but West Ham were all at seas at the back. "We're only here for one season," came the chant from the Cherries' faithful - they were loving it.
AFCB looked totally in control now with Francis the next to shoot over. It was too much for Boruc after 34 minutes who subbed Ogbonna at the back for Tomkins. It didn't change the AFCB tide though that kept coming forward with Charlie Daniels hitting a wicked drive that just flew past Randolph's left post. The tackles were flying in now and Cook did an absolute cruncher on Sako, while Gradel muscled in to wrestle the ball off Jenkinson with sheer determination. As the sign went up for two minutes of extra time Wilson made a super pass for Gradel who was one on one with Randolph but as Gradel opened his body up and tried to bend it round the shot stopper, Randolph made an amazing save to his left that kept the score a 0-2 at half time.
 |
| Half time score. |
While AFCB fans had been buoyant and in full song up to now things were about to change. On came jarvis for Nolan and with the ball hung up in Bournemouth's box Boruc did his best to punch clear only for Noble to look to find room for a shot. A desperate King made a mistimed challenge at Jonathan Ross pointed to the spot. It was routine for Noble - bottom left sending Boruc the wrong way. West Ham were some how back in it at 1-2.
Eddie Howe decided Josh King needed to be subbed as he was injured and on came Marc Pugh on 51 minutes. Gradel moved to the number 10 position and Pugh filled in on the left wing. In fact, Pugh had a comical moment when he tried to give the ball back to West Ham so as not to gain an advantage but Kouyate stole in a robbed of the ball before he could pass it back.
West Ham could sense they were back in this and with a smart save from Artur Boruc from Sakho a sudden follow up from Kouyate made it 2-2 on 53 minutes. While our hearts sank and West Ham fans sang all eyes were now on the pitch wondering what would happen next.
It was Gradel who got the Cherries going again by smashing a shot just wide of the West Ham goal four minutes later. With an hour gone, AFCB were still trying to get back in front with Surman finding Pugh free and his shot from around the penalty spot went straight at Randolph who was just pleased to keep it out - it was like a replay of the position Pugh had got into against Villa, but the same result. While Pugh collected his thoughts after a stoppage in play by bouncing the ball, he seemed determined to not make the same mistake again. sure enough on 66 minutes he had another chance when Max Gradel squared the ball to him on the left and Pugh cut inside Jenkinson before, firing past Tomkins and curling his shot past Randolph and into the left side of the goal - 2-3!
The Cherries continued to press for more goals with Francis putting in a testing cross that Tomkins was probably pleased he didn't make contact with when facing his own goal. Sakho was subbed for Maiga on 72 minutes and while Obiang was down play went on for some time with West Ham in possession, but the ball go overturned and AFCB were hitting the Hammers on the break with good numbers and as the ball passed Obiang who was on half way the referee decided to blow his whistle for the player to receive attention. It was another clear indication that referees were being inconsistent and the AFCB fans just sang "all we want is a decent referee!" Meanwhile, Boruc who had run up from his goal to the half way line to complain received a yellow card.
If the Cherries thought that they had been duped out of a goal scoring opportunity the fans were happy again when Gradel chased down Jenkins and raced into the box only to be hauled back by Carl Jenkins and even Jonathan Moss had to agree this was a penalty. Jenkinson saw red and West Ham were down to 10. It was just a question of whether Wilson would get his hat-trick from the spot and he obliged - 2-4!
All seemed well with a two goal lead restored but West ham had other thoughts and from a throw, Creswell found Miaga with still some 35 yards to go towards goal, but the striker got his head down and strode his way right through the centre of the Cherries' defence before tapping home past Boruc with superb calmness- it was 3-4!
The last nine minutes of normal time were not to bring anymore goals but the tension was immense. Randolph was named the man of the match - despite Bournemouth fans singing "it's happening again!" every time he touched the ball. Ritchie made a long run that was looking promising before Tomkins blocked him off and with Gosling now on and six minutes of extra time, AFCB looked to keep possession and hold the lead. With Adam Smith replacing Matt Ritchie the AFCB fans were already celebrating their first win of the season and sure enough even a last minute free kick and then a corner with a bit of a scramble in the box ended with the referee blowing for full time.
 |
| This is what a first Premier League means to the AFCB fans. |
 |
| The hard fought game is over. |
 |
| The players come over to the away supporters. |
Summary
It had to come at some time - yes AFCB were going to win a game in the Premier League. Eddie Howe might have wanted a slightly more routine win but a win is a win and the players cold have scored even more goals as well as probably concede some more. Still the seasiders were stronger than the Hammers and Callum Wilson certainly took his chances to get on the score book. Max Gradel was unplayable at times and was even tackling back. there will be questions asked about the 10 minutes of the second half but this is a result to celebrate and three pints to enjoy for a team that came over to the Lower Trevor Brooking stand at the end of the game and basically said that was for you. Eddie and his team delivered and we always knew that would. Now they have something to build on.
 |
| A fantastic performance from the team. |
AFCB
Boruc, Francis, Elphick, Cook, Daniels, Ritchie (Smith 94), O'Kane, Surman, Gradel (Gosling 85), King (Pugh 51), Wilson
AFCB Ratings
Boruc 6, Francis 7, Elphick 6, Cook 6, Daniels 8, Ritchie 7, O'Kane 6, Surman 6, Gradel 8, King 5, Wilson 10
West Ham
Randolph, Jenkinson, Reid, Ogbonna (Tomkins 35), Cresswell, Noble, Obiang, Kouyaté, Payet,
Nolan (Jarvis 45), Sakho (Maiga 73)
West Ham Subs:
Tomkins, Jarvis, Collins, Maiga, Lanzini, Spiegel, Cullen
Referee: Watch: Jonathan Moss 3/10 - still far too many free missed free kicks and poor decisions but AFCB fans are getting used to expecting the worst.
No comments:
Post a Comment