Cherries: Nice Guy Eddie got everything he deserved (From Bournemouth Echo)

Cherries: Nice Guy Eddie got everything he deserved

7:00am Monday 27th April 2009

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By Neil Meldrum »

IF Steve Fletcher was Cherries’ goal hero, then it was former chief executive Laurence Jones who provided the assist.

As if Eddie Howe’s script-writers had not been working enough overtime during the past four months, up stepped legend Fletcher to smash home the winning goal of this dramatic encounter and preserve the club’s unbroken 86-year stay in the Football League.

It was the 100th league strike of his career to further add to the fairytale.

But it was Jones, as passionate and vocal as the 9,007 supporters from both sides who surrounded him on a truly emotional afternoon, whose stirring half-time rallying cry struck deep into the hearts of all who witnessed it.

A goal down at half-time after Nathan Jarman had given Mike Newell’s visitors the lead, Cherries’ livewire Liam Feeney, a thorn in Joe Widdowson’s side for much of the clash, restored rightful parity within two minutes of the restart and Jones’s tearful outpouring.

CLICK BELOW TO VIEW THE DAILY ECHO VIDEO FROM DEAN COURT ON SATURDAY.

The Mariners, already down to 10 men after Danny Boshell was given his marching orders in first-half stoppage time, capitulated as Widdowson followed his dissenting team-mate down the tunnel four minutes from time.

But the home support probably couldn’t have cared less by that point, the majority still basking in wonderment at Fletcher’s brutal strike and stunning celebration after 80 minutes.

You couldn’t make it up, said one hack rammed into the Dean Court press box – and he wasn’t wrong.

In truth, Howe’s men got absolutely everything they deserved from a game that was dominated by the home side.

Jason Pearce, fresh from picking up five player-of-the-season awards before kick-off, stood firm alongside Ryan Garry, while Lee Bradbury, in for the injured Shaun Cooper, showed all of his experience just when it mattered most.

Aside from Jarman’s strike, where Howe’s back four were caught napping, Newell’s troops were barely given a sniff all afternoon, while Brett Pitman, Fletcher, Mark Molesley and, in particular Feeney, caused chaos at the other end.

And when so often sides flatter to deceive when it really matters, Howe’s charges showed courage, commitment, passion and skill that made a mockery of the club’s ongoing off-field woes.

Half of which was there in person as co-owner Paul Baker made his first appearance at Dean Court for more than a month.

Baker could claim to be something of a lucky charm, with Cherries’ rampaging 4-1 win over Bradford in March his last visit to the stadium.

But even after he addressed Howe’s heroes following the final whistle, missing wages and waves of personal uncertainty will probably rise to the front of the players’ minds once the sheer ecstasy of this achievement wears off.

All of which gives Baker a little time to sort out the club’s future once and for all – for now the time has come to end the saga.

Despite being in administration last season, Kevin Bond’s gritty stars almost pulled off the Greatest Escape.

And now many of those same players, coupled with Howe’s class of 2009, have shown again that they deserve so much more than the day-to-day shambles that shadows them behind the scenes.

The likes of Molesley, Feeney and Jeff Goulding have snatched their chances to shine on the professional stage with both hands, while Fletcher risked his reputation to come back and lead the battle for survival.

And what of Howe’s role in all this? It simply cannot be underestimated.

Ten points adrift when he was handed the reins on a permanent basis in January, Cherries were ramshackle, uncoordinated and lacking in real leadership.

Despite his quiet, intimidating nature, though, Nice Guy Eddie whipped what Jimmy Quinn had left behind quickly into shape.

Smiles replaced frowns and defeats became victories and stunning performances.

All of which led the supporters, who returned in their droves following Howe’s appointment, towards Saturday’s euphoric survival.

Now the players, management, supporters and backroom staff, who have been treated as shabbily as those on the pitch, must enjoy this moment for as long as they can.

It is sure to be a testing summer, although, after this, surely anything is possible?

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