Cherries: Bees send season towards an uneasy end (From Bournemouth Echo)

Cherries: Bees send season towards an uneasy end

5:21pm Monday 13th April 2009

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EASTER Monday became Black Monday as Cherries slipped to a potentially-disastrous defeat at the hands of League Two leaders Brentford this afternoon.

Billy Clarke’s first-half goal settled a highly-charged and fractious encounter in the visitors’ favour as the 10-man Bees edged closer to automatic promotion.

And with Cherries’ relegation rivals Chester and Grimsby both winning, defeat again sounded the alarm bells for Eddie Howe’s anxious troops.

Cherries head to Chester on Saturday with just a solitary point now separating the two clubs – with their Football League status very much in the balance.

Clarke administered the killer blow four minutes before half-time, although the Bees’ win was marred by an unsavoury incident involving team-mates Darren Powell and Karleigh Osborne.

Former Saints defender Powell received his marching orders for throwing a punch at Osborne after the two players had clashed following a Cherries corner.

But despite playing 10 men for most of the second half, Cherries failed to find a way through and now face a nailbiting finale to the season.

Mark Molesley and Steve Fletcher were both restored to the Cherries starting line-up as boss Howe made two changes.

Molesley, who missed Saturday’s defeat at Barnet due to flu, replaced Lee Bradbury in midfield, while Fletcher came in up front for Jeff Goulding.

Around 2,000 travelling supporters from West London boosted a season’s best crowd of 8,168 for this eagerly-awaited Bank Holiday showdown.

Although Cherries made an encouraging start, Bees goalkeeper Ben Hamer was not unduly troubled by early efforts from Brett Pitman and Fletcher.

Pitman’s weak long-range shot after seven minutes trickled wide before Fletcher headed tamely into the arms of the Brentford stopper.

Tempers flared following a clash of heads between Pitman and Powell after 15 minutes. Fletcher, who was unhappy with Powell’s challenge, received a booking following a heated exchange with Bees midfielder Marcus Bean, who was also cautioned.

Referee Gavin Ward was unmoved after Fletcher had gone to ground in the penalty area following a brush with Bees skipper Alan Bennett.

As the league leaders began to find their feet, Adam Newton’s shot fizzed over the crossbar following a neat lay-off by Clarke.

Cherries goalkeeper Shwan Jalal saved comfortably from Clarke’s drive before Danny Hollands’s tenacity created an opening for Molesley.

Hollands nicked the ball wide to Molesley who stepped inside before unleashing a powerful angled drive, which Hamer beat away with his fists.

And after Hollands had seized on the loose ball, David Hunt charged down his follow-up strike from 20 yards before Bennett’s dipping volley just cleared the crossbar.

Brentford took the lead four minutes before the break when Clarke, on loan from Ipswich, headed home his third goal since arriving from Portman Road last month.

The lively Irish striker was on hand to divert Sam Wood’s shot past a stranded Jalal, his deft header giving the Cherries goalkeeper no chance.

Scott Guyett replaced Ryan Garry at the interval before Cherries went close to drawing level following Pitman’s 49th-minute corner.

But after Hamer had spilled his delivery under pressure from Fletcher, Hollands’s goalbound shot was cleared off the line by Hunt.

Just seconds later, a heated exchange between Powell and team-mate Osborne turned nasty when the two players became embroiled on an ugly brawl.

And after consulting his assistant, referee Ward brandished a straight red card at Powell after deeming him to have been the instigator, with Osborne also booked.

Bees boss Andy Scott immediately made a substitution, sacrificing midfielder Newton for defender Mark Phillips.

As Cherries looked to make their numerical advantage pay, Anton Robinson’s snapshot flew well wide before two more resonable chances also came to nothing.

Firstly, Molesley’s thunderous drive struck Phillips before Hollands saw his piledriver parried low down by Hamer at his near post.

As referee Ward started to lose control, Cherries substitute Jeff Goulding was booked for taking a dive – just seconds after Clarke had gone unpunished for the same offence.

Despite throwing the kitchen sink at Brentford during the closing stages, Cherries failed to break down the visitors’ rearguard, leaving the season headed towards an uneasy finish.

Cherries (4-4-2): Jalal, Cooper, Pearce, Garry (Guyett, h-t), Wiggins, Feeney, Hollands (Goulding, 77), Robinson, Molesley, Fletcher (Bradbury, 86), Pitman. Unused subs: Connell, Cummings.

Booked: Fletcher, Hollands, Wiggins, Goulding.

Brentford (4-4-2): Hamer, Osborne, Powell, Bennett, Dickson, Newton (Phillips, 52), Bean, Hunt, Wood, S Williams (Smith, 90), Clarke (M Williams, 81). Unused subs: Brown, Poole.

Booked: Bean, Osborne.

Sent-off: Powell.

Referee: Gavin Ward (Surrey).

Attendance: 8,168.

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AFCBade, Sanderstead says...
6:01pm Mon 13 Apr 09

unfortunately easter looked a pivotal point given that the cherries faced two hard matches while chester and grimsby had two fairly easy games. We probably could have been in a worse position than we are. Still in our own hands and if we can't beat chester and grimsby then we dont deserve to stay up. No matter the ending, expect the next few weeks to be agony!