Cherries: Honours even at Valley Parade (From Bournemouth Echo)

Cherries: Honours even at Valley Parade

4:53pm Saturday 14th November 2009

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Cherries’ two-month stay at the League Two summit came to an end when they were held to a draw by Bradford City in a hard-fought contest at Valley Parade.

Brett Pitman bagged his ninth goal of the season to fire Eddie Howe’s men into a 33rd-minute lead following a fairly uneventful start to the first half.

But as the contest came to life, Bantams striker Gareth Evans restored parity three minutes before half-time to earn the hosts a share of the spoils.

Boss Howe was forced to make one change to the Cherries starting line-up with Marvin Bartley drafted in for Sammy Igoe who was ruled out due to a leg injury.

A tactical switch saw skipper Danny Hollands fill in on the left-hand side of midfield with Bartley partnering Anton Robinson in the centre.

The opening skirmishes offered precious little in the way of goalmouth action, although Shwan Jalal was twice required to race off his line to smother at the feet of Evans and Chris Brandon.

Ryan Garry’s slip gifted Evans the first chance of note midway through the first half, but, again, Jalal narrowed the angle, forcing the striker to slide his shot well wide.

Cherries responded when City goalkeeper Simon Eastwood touched Alan Connell’s curling effort around the post just minutes later.

Pitman started and finished the move that saw Cherries take the lead after 32 minutes, the striker’s one-two with Robinson scything apart the Bantams rearguard.

And as the hosts waited in vain for an offside flag, Pitman took the opportunity to roll the ball into an unguarded net for his ninth goal of the season.

The lead was short-lived, however, as Evans sprung the offside trap to meet Lee Bullock’s pass before rounding Jalal and stroking the ball home nine minutes later.

Jalal got down smartly to his left to push Michael Flynn’s 20-yarder around the post at the start of the second half as City started brightly.

But Cherries should have regained the lead on 59 minutes when Robinson wasted a gilt-edged chance to score after lifting his shot over the crossbar from eight yards.

Fletcher, on as a 56th-minute replacement for Connell, saw his diving header comfortably saved by Eastwood before Jalal smothered a long-range effort from Steve Williams.

Eastwood saved well after Pitman’s strike had deflected off Zesh Rehman, while Lee Bradbury dragged his shot horribly wide from just inside the 18-yard box.

Robinson cleared off the line after Bullock had met Scott Neilson’s corner with a near-post header Cherries (4-4-2): Jalal; Bradbury, Pearce, Garry, Cummings; Feeney, Robinson, Bartley, Hollands; Pitman, Connell (Fletcher, 56).

Unused subs: Goulding, Partington, Thomas (g/k).

Booked: Pearce.

Bantams: Eastwood; Bateson, Williams, Clarke, L O’Brien; Neilson, Bullock, Rehman, Brandon; Evans (R Boulding, 85), Flynn.

Unused subs: Ramsden, J O’Brien, Sharry, Carson, McLaughlin (g/k).

Referee: Andy Haines (Tyne & Wear).

Attendance: 11,732 (inc 241 away supporters).

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