Travers - ty for Spurs as Bournemouth's keeper shines 1-0

Match Report

AFCB 1 v 0 Tottenham Hotspur

4 May 2019

Match Attendance: 10,630

Mark Travers puts on an exceptional debut in AFCB's goal.

How many debut's in the Premier League end up taking the man of the match award? Not many I'd suggest, but Mark Travers walked off with the only award he could win on the day, on an afternoon when the player of the year awards were handed out. 

Travers put in a series of stunning first half series of saves to keep out Lucas Moura, Dele Alli and Christian Erickson. Jefferson Lerma and Nathan Aké started to win possession for Bournemouth and Fraser and Ibe utilised the ball well, until Son Heung-Min shoved Jefferson Lerma - Son was sent off!

AFCB prepare for the awards presentations.

The man advantage became even greater when substitute Juan Foyth was also red carded for a dangerous high-footed challenge on Jack Simpson. The game was there for Bournemouth to win, but they stopped attacking with pace and Spurs even started to take the game to Bournemouth. The final 10 minutes saw Bournemouth up their game though and Nathan Aké headed in an injury time winner to earn Bournemouth's first win over Spurs - the record points total is on for AFCB!

Bournemouth had a few awards to hand out starting with David Brooks picking up the Junior Cherry Award, Ryan Fraser took the Vice-President's award, Nathan Aké won the Exiles player of the year, the Bournemouth Echo's Micky Cave Award went to Ryan Fraser and the club's Player of the Year Award also went to Ryan Fraser. Something tells me the fans really don't want Ryan to leave this summer!

Out come the teams.

While Fraser was contemplating the high regard he is held in by the fans, Eddie Howe gave a debut to Mark Travers in goal at just 19. Ibe was brought into the starting line up as well along with the returning Adam Smith. Artur Boruc, Dan Gosling, Chris Mepham, David Brooks and Emerson Hyndman were dropped.

There are more photos on Match Day Gallery.

Bournemouth began with some confident play. Fraser started at right back and Clyne was over at left back with Aké next to Lerma in the middle, and Ibe playing just behind Callum Wilson, while Josh King played out wide on the left wing.

Good early pressure came from Lerma and Jordan Ibe, forcing their way though the middle. Ibe found Fraser who had his first shot blocked.

Steve Cook had to make a saving tackle at the other end to stop Heung-Min Son and Travers settled in with a few safe kicks. Spotting Travers off his line, Lucas Moura tried an audacious long chip, which just span out wide of Bournemouth's left post.

Jordan Ibe took a blow to the head but carried on. Dier was then carded for a foul on Ryan Fraser on 27 minutes.

Advertisement

Coastal Garden Buildings

Spurs started to exert a bit of authority with a sharp drag back by Alli, taking out two Bournemouth defenders before his driven shot was pushed out to the right by a diving Travers. Following the corner, a cross from Sissoko landed nicely for Lucas Moura, but Travers again kept Spurs out on 19 minutes.

Wilson did some defending in robbing Ericksen and getting Bournemouth going forward, but he was soon taken out by Alderweireld who picked up a yellow card on 23 minutes.

Spurs attacked with a ball over the top that put Moura in again, but Travers stood up and saved the shot with his legs. Son got behind Bournemouth's defence on the left and ran right across the box before Ryan Fraser got a saving challenge in.

Danny Rose put in a pinpoint cross for Dele Alli to head, but Travers was again equal to it. Simpson then made a good block.

Josh King had made a strong run on the break and was going towards goal, when he was chopped down, but the referee waved play on much to the annoyance of the home fans. King then was through with Lloris to beat only for the keeper to make the save before clattering into King, but a corner is all Bournemouth were given.

Fraser put in the low cross that Lloris dropped on in front of his goal line. Ericksen kept testing the Bournemouth defence and shot from the edge of the box to see Travers spring to his right and make another great save.

Aké was fouled by Sissoko who was booked. Wilson also found himself down, after a un form King left Wilson with the ball before he stopped in the Tottenham box by Dier, perhaps unfairly.

Bournemouth's good fortune came wen Fraser got stuck in to win the ball near his own box and Lerma also battled to win the ball, until Heung-Min Son lost his head by pushing Lerma over and he was sent off!

Two minutes of added time followed with Aké putting a header wide Simpson also had a header from a corner that Lloris saved to keep it 0-0 at half-time.

Half time and the U21's show off their Central League Cup trophy.

Second Half
Spurs reorganised and subbed Alderweirelde and Ericksen at half-time to bring on Foyth and Wanyama. Foyth won the ball in his own half and went on a good run over half way, but he lost control and went charging with a high knee-level challenge on Jack Simpson. Craig Pawson saw it as a clear red card, and the sub was off to take Spurs down to nine men.

Fraser won a corner only for Simpson to foul Lloris. Wilson had a shot blocked before Fraser crossed well and Wilson headed wide on 68 minutes.

Bournemouth pushed on with Wilson blocked just in front of goal, and Clyne shooting wide. Ibe then thought he'd broken the deadlock with a curling shot from the left only to see Lloris pull out a great save for a corner.

Fraser got another cross into Wilson who shot wide, while Mousset came on for Ibe on 74 minutes. Mousset was immediately involved as Fraser made a deep cross from the right and Lys Mousset headed well, but right at Lloris.

Spurs brought on Ben Davies for Sissoko with eight minutes to go. King had a shot blocked with time running out before Mousset headed a corner on that Wilson blocked on the line, and Aké then had a shot blocked. 

But Bournemouth kept going into added time with Fraser putting in another deep cross that Aké got to with his head just as Wilson was looking to get his foot on it. the ball nestled in the net and the Cherries had scored!

Wanyama was carded for a late tackle on Adam Smith. With Lerma and Alli going head to head in the last minute both were also carded. But Bournemouth were not going to be denied the win, even with Moura trying a bicycle kick right at the end which went a metre wide and Wilson bundling over Dele Alli which could have been a penalty. 

A famous home win over Tottenham.

Summary

This was a historic win for Eddie Howe's side. The drama of the last day of the season made it all the more important for momentum going forward. Spurs had their chances but they met a keeper that was not going to be denied. The whole back line played their part in achieving the clean sheet. While Lloris was not kept that busy, Bournemouth were perhaps denied a penalty and did enough on the day to get the win against the nine Tottenham men who were guilty themselves of giving AFCB a two player advantage.

Just one game to go.

AFCB Ratings

Travers 10, Fraser 9, Simpson 7, S Cook 7, Clyne 7, A Smith 7, Lerma 8, Aké 8, King 6, Ibe 7, Wilson 8

AFCB line up

AFCB Subs: Boruc, Mepham, Taylor, Hyndman, Mousset, Surridge, Ofoborh

Cherry Chimes' Mom: Mark Travers on debut.

Ref Watch Craig Pawson: 2/10 He should have booked even more Tottenham players, but  eventually did agree with the home fans that some Tottenham players had to go.

Spurs
Lloris, Trippier, Alderweireld (Foyth 45 RED CARD), D Sánchez, Rose, Sissoko (Davies 82),
Dier (Wanyama 45), Eriksen, Alli, Son Heung-Min RED CARD, Lucas Moura

Spurs' Subs

Janssen, Wanyama, Llorente, Foyth, Gazzaniga, Davies, Skipp