Cherries: Supa Fletch opens second-half floodgates (From Bournemouth Echo)

Cherries: Supa Fletch opens second-half floodgates

11:37pm Tuesday 23rd February 2010 in

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RAMPANT Cherries re-ignited their League Two promotion bid by coasting to their biggest –and best – home victory of the season tonight.

Eddie Howe’s charges turned on the style to see off struggling Barnet with a superb all-round display and moved to within two points of leaders Rochdale.

Steve Fletcher laid the foundations with a 59th-minute opener before master marksman Brett Pitman took on the baton and netted twice to complete a facile win.

Victory saw Cherries open up a six-point gap on the play-off pack and narrow Rochdale’s lead after they suffered a 3-1 home defeat at the hands of Bradford.

Danny Hollands was a surprise omission as Cherries boss Howe made two changes to his starting line-up.

The industrious midfielder was ruled out by a knee ligament injury but confirmed he was hoping to be back for the trip to Shrewsbury.

Marvin Bartley stepped back into central midfield with Ryan Garry making a welcome return to the heart of the Cherries defence.

Alan Connell was rewarded for his goalscoring exploits against Macclesfield with a recall, with Josh McQuoid dropping down to the bench.

Barnet, 2-0 victors on their last visit to Dean Court 14 months ago, drafted in striker Jake Hyde for injured veteran frontman Paul Furlong.

The Bees sported a garish purple kit which they wore for the first time on Saturday when they won on the road for the first time in almost six months.

Barnet goalkeeper Jake Cole’s save from Pitman set the tone for the opening period with Cherries dominating from the first whistle to the last.

Pitman quickly drew another stop from Cole, although the striker would have been disappointed with his tame shot from 10 yards.

Liam Feeney got in on the act when his curling effort flashed over the top before Joe Devera was booked for a cynical tackle on Pitman as he looked to go through on goal.

As shooting opportunities continued to present themselves to Pitman, he sent a 25-yard free kick soaring over the crossbar after David Livermore had handled.

Barnet posed few problems in the early stages and the visitors again had Cole to thank when the goalkeeper dived to his left to scoop away Connell’s low drive.

Connell headed narrowly past the upright after latching on to a Rhoys Wiggins corner before Devera was inexplicably spared a second yellow card after tossing away the ball.

Feeney’s fierce volley went straight down Cole’s throat, while a close-range strike from Pitman was deflected for a corner as Cherries continued to control proceedings.

And as an opening period dominated by the hosts drew to a close, Lee Bradbury saw his speculative drive from 25 yards climb over the crossbar.

The second half started as the first had ended – with Cherries creating a chance, only for Pitman to blaze his shot into the Kings Park lorry park following good work between Connell and Fletcher.

Connell also cleared the crossbar with a volley after peeling away to meet a cross before Cherries finally – and deservedly – made the breakthrough on 59 minutes.

A slip by Matt Lockwood gifted possession to Feeney, allowing the winger to gallop clear down the right flank.

And he made the Bees pay with interest by delivering an inch-perfect cross which Fletcher powered past Cole with a trademark bullet header. It was his fourth goal of the season and his first in front of the Dean Court supporters.

Barnet were also culpable as Cherries quickly doubled their lead when Pitman took his tally for the season to 18 just two minutes later.

Goalkeeper Cole dithered on the edge of his 18-yard box as he attempted to claim a backpass and looked on helplessly after he had been dispossessed by Pitman who then gleefully slotted the ball into an unguarded net.

A superbly-crafted third goal was not long in coming with Pitman finding the bottom corner of Cole’s net with a precise right-foot finish on 76 minutes, with Feeney providing the assist.

Cole twice denied Pitman his hat-trick, an instinctive save after 80 minutes and a late block preventing the striker adding his third and Cherries’ fourth.

Cherries (4-4-2): Jalal 7.5; Brad-bury 7.5, Pearce 7.5, Garry 7.5, Wiggins 7.5; Feeney 7.5 (McQuoid, 81), Robinson 7.5, Bartley 8, Con-nell 8.5* (Cummings, 83); Pitman 8.5, Fletcher 8 (Goulding, 78).

Unused sub: Thomas (g/k).

Booked: Pearce.

Barnet (4-4-2): Cole; Devera, Livermore, Kamdjo, Lockwood; Adomah, M Hyde, Hughes, Jarrett (Deverdics, 85); O’Flynn (Gillet, 63), J Hyde.

Unused subs: O’Neill, Deen, Harrison (g/k), Carpenter (g/k).

Booked: Devera, Jarrett.

Referee: Danny McDermid (Middlesex).

Attendance: 4,019.