The Cherries have to reagin their fluency

That fluent, flowing football that Eddie Howe's teams are renowned for spluttered rather than purred against Stoke City at the weekend. It was a real pity as the side had been fighting its corner well since December and picking up points often enough to move away from the bottom three. It is important now that the Cherries use those four points that they have in hand to feel that they can extend the gap further, knowing that every point they get is making it more difficult for those chasing with games running out.

AFCB are in this together.

Football is a difficult game when too much thought is perhaps put into the way the side plays. "Usually we are up and at them and fluent with everyone on the same page," said Eddie Howe. It couldn't be more simple could it? So why did we see Simon Francis start hitting balls too hard, Harry Arter waving his arms in frustration and Junior Stanislas giving the ball away on a short five yard pass? Lack of concentration? Wrong mind thought? Nervousness of doing the wrong thing? 

Not even Eddie Howe could put his finger on it, but the team as a whole were out of step with each other which was the worrying thing for me. It wasn't any one individual not performing to their ability, it was more about the players not being on the same page. Usually the decisions are made quickly and the team gets at the opposition with speed and power, but all we saw was a confused picture with players questioning the decisions that others were making.

It was one of those days when things just didn't feel right. There is no time though for the players to revisit the nervous hiccups that they had early on in the season when they played Spurs at Dean Court. The run-in is upon us and they must stand up and play with real endeavour now if they are to battle through and it will be a battle. If AFCB did not know before last Saturday's game, then they know now that they must fight to stay in this league and with that the fluency should come. There's work still to be done.

Transfer News
Ben Whitfield extends his youth loan to Kidderminster Harriers until the end of the season.

Matthews grabs last minute winner against Sholing FC

Stephen Purches saw his side struggle for dominance over a Sholing FC side that had offered to host the AFCB Development squad after AFC Totton's pitch was not playable. Adults paid just £5 to see the game and they will have seen Australian Jordan Holmes in goal for the Cherries and Aly Coulibay winning another appearance, while Stockley returned along with Ben Whitfield in a strong line up. Meanwhile, Stephane Zubar was back from his trial at Cambridge Utd so the side was not quite an U21 team after all.

There was not much commentary on twitter, but Aristide Bassele put the Cherries ahead before half time. More goals followed in the second half with Jayden Stockley registering a goal before Sholing FC got a goal back through Baldacchino's left footed strike. It was all set up for a grandstand finish and the hosts managed to get an equaliser with a few minutes to go. But the Cherries kept going and Sam Matthews provided a finish that stunned Sholing when he smashed in a powerful drive to make it 2-3 and another win for the Development squad.

AFCB official Tweets

Cherries XI to face Sholing FC:
Holmes, Muleba, Buckley, Zubar, Kaye, Coulibaly, Cornick, Whitfield, Stockley, Goodship, Bassele. #afcb

Just over 20 minutes gone and #afcb have just had their best effort of the game far with Bassele's header being well saved. Still 0-0.

#afcb take the lead on the 27th minute as Bassele takes a heavy challenge in the box & steps up to convert the penalty. @sholingfc 0-1 #afcb
Still five minutes to go until the break at the the Silverlake Arena. #afcb still lead @sholingfc by one goal to nil.

Half time at @sholingfc and the Cherries still lead 1-0 thanks an Aristide Bassele penalty. #afcb

The second half is only three minutes old when Jayden Stockley doubles the lead with a lethal finish from 18 yards. #afcb

Matthews and Stockley both come close for #afcb, bringing to an end am impressive passing move. The visitors well in control and lead 2-0.

The hosts have pulled one back here, with a dipping left footed strike from 25 yards out from Baldacchino. @sholingfc 1-2 #afcb

As we enter the dying stages, @sholingfc have grabbed an equaliser as a loose ball is bundled into the back of the net. @sholingfc 2-2 #afcb

With the last move of the game #afcb have grabbed a winner thanks to a cracking 20 yard shot from Matthews! @sholingfc 2-3 #afcb

The referee blows his whistle to call time on a thoroughly entertaining game. Reaction and report to follow. @sholingfc 2-3 #afcb

Cherries put 11 past Dorchester in friendly

AFCB turned out at Dorchester with a strong first team in the first half and sadly for Dorchester they were in the mood to rack up the goals. With Francis captaining the side Cargill also started in defence and new signing Gosling also took to the field. It was Harry Arter though that was not messing about when his drive just 76 seconds in found it's way to the back of Dorchester's net to give the Cherries an early lead. He came close too a few minutes later when he hit the post, but was Yann Kermorgant who doubled the lead on 13 minutes.

The Cherries had their shooting boots on today and within another minute Matt Ritchie had nipped in to make it 0-3. That wasn't the end of the first half scoring though as Dan Gosling came within a whisker of his first goal, but Ritchie added his second on the rebound. It didn't end there either as Kermrogant go his second from the penalty spot to make it 0-5 and it was 0-6 on the half hour, Kermorgant again.

Even with Fraser and MaCDonald coming off AFCB still had the likes of Pitman and Sam Matthews to replace them. Sure enough Pitman did not make much time in adding to the score to make it 0-7. There was a bit of calm then in the scoring before Pitman made it 0-8 on 43 minutes. It was explosive stuff from the Cherries and Dorchester had no answer to it.

At this point I started to look up AFCB's biggest ever win.11-0 against Margate in an FA Cup tie in 1971 I though, but I was corrected by Keith Morey that AFCB beat MK Dons 13-0 in a friendly under Paul Groves.

Jack McCarthy replaced Adam Smith for the second half and we were off again. Kermorgant adding to his overall total with a free-kick to make it 0-9. A whole host of changes were then made on the hour by Eddie Howe to bring some fresh legs on including Junior Stanislas and Callum Wilson. Callum Wilson announced his arrival with his first goal for the Cherries on 65 minutes. The score ended at 11 in the end when Ben Whitfield finished the Cherries scoring.

Simon Francis captained the side against Dorchester Town.

Here are the official tweets from AFCB on the match:

#afcb XI to play @DorchTownFC: Buchel, Smith, Francis, Cargill, Harte, Ritchie, Gosling, MacDonald, Arter, Fraser, Kermorgant.

Simon Francis will captain #afcb in the first half.

01: @DorchTownFC get the game under way at The Avenue. #afcb

02: GOAL! @HarryArter2 opens the scoring after 76 seconds with a fierce drive. #afcb

08: @HarryArter2 hits the post! The midfielder strikes the woodwork after being picked out by @RyanFraser94. 0-1. #afcb

09: Matt Ritchie puts the ball in the net, but he's flagged offside. 0-1. #afcb

13: Yann Kermorgant makes it 2-0. Classy finish from the lone striker from 20 yards out. #afcb

14: GOAL! Matt Ritchie converts from @ianharte23's cross to add a third for #afcb. 0-3.

20: GOAL! Dan Gosling has a shot cleared off the line, but Matt Ritchie puts away the rebound. 0-4. #afcb

28: GOAL! Yann Kermorgant scores his second & #afcb's fifth from the penalty spot. 0-5.

28: @RyanFraser94 & @ShaunMac20 are replaced by Brett Pitman & Sam Matthews. 0-5. #afcb

30: It's a hat-trick for Yann Kermorgant inside half an hour! 0-6. #afcb

35: GOAL! Brett Pitman is on hand to tap in @AdamSmith912's low cross. 0-7. #afcb

43: GOAL! Brett Pitman keeps his cool to slot home from just inside the box. 0-8. #afcb

Half-time: @DorchTownFC 0-8 Cherries. #afcb in complete control during the first half at The Avenue.

Just one change at half-time for #afcb, with @JakeMcC_17 replacing @AdamSmith912.

48: GOAL! Yann Kermorgant curls in a free-kick at the start of the second half. 0-9. #afcb

57: @ianharte23 hits the post with a free-kick! 0-9. #afcb

A number of changes about to be made by Eddie Howe, including the introduction of Callum Wilson & Junior Stanislas. #afcb

#afcb XI to play final 30 mins: Buchel, Francis, McCarthy, Cook, Daniels, Stanislas, O'Kane, McQuoid, Pugh, Wilson, Pitman.

65: GOAL! Callum Wilson helps #afcb into double figures with his first goal in red & black. 0-10.

68: Simon Francis is replaced by @b_cargill, who started the first half. @JakeMcC_17 will play at full-back. #afcb

71: @ben_whitfield96 & Patrick O'Flaherty come on for @b_cargill & @BeniBuechel. #afcb
75: Former #afcb youth team goalkeeper Shane Murphy has made good saves to deny Brett Pitman, Josh McQuoid & @ben_whitfield96.

88: GOAL! Development squad midfielder @ben_whitfield96 scores from close range in the closing stages. 0-11. #afcb

Full-time: @DorchTownFC 0-11 Cherries. #afcb