Cherries: Fletcher silences his doubters in a way only he can

Before this latest heroic effort, not everyone at the Bescot agreed.

As Fletcher himself revealed, one particular Walsall fan had made his feelings known.

But actions speak louder than words and Fletcher has always loved dishing out deafening responses to his doubters.

Saturday was another script straight out of his Hollywood portfolio.

In a typically entertaining post-match interview, Fletcher told the media: “I was warming up and someone shouted ‘Retire!’ but he shouted it after I had run past him.

“I know it is banter and 99 per cent of the time, I have a great rapport with the away supporters when I am warming up because they have been used to seeing me for 22 years.

“It is always ‘when are you going to retire?’ and it makes it even sweeter if you can pop up and get an equaliser like that in the 93rd minute.”

If it is any consolation to that Saddlers supporter, they were not the first – and won’t be the last – to be silenced by the man they call Supa.

At 39, time is not on his side. And after a quiet first five minutes of his cameo on the boggy Walsall pitch, it looked unlikely he would make the difference.

But Fletcher has spent the past few years defying logic. Winning flick-ons and providing Cherries with a target for their late onslaught, the striker began to warm to his task. With moments remaining, he reached boiling point.

It was Fletcher’s first goal of the season and he must have netted few better during his 19 seasons in Dorset.

Simon Francis produced an inviting cross and timing his run to perfection, the frontman crashed a textbook header beyond fellow veteran Jimmy Walker into the top corner.

The Cherries contingent – players and supporters alike – celebrated as if they had won.

Given the manner of the inconsistent display that preceded the late drama, it probably felt like a victory.

Prior to a stirring comeback in the final 30 minutes, Cherries had showed few signs of the fine form that has put them in play-off contention.

Second best in midfield and struggling to come to terms with a difficult playing surface, Lee Bradbury’s men were under pressure in defence and lacklustre in attack.

In mitigation, the return to fitness of absent quartet Adam Barrett, Charlie Daniels, Shaun MacDonald and Scott Malone will boost Cherries. But the visiting supporters had every right to expect better in the opening 45 minutes.

Cherries’ 10-match unbeaten away league run looked in severe danger after Walsall deservedly took a two-goal lead.

The Saddlers were fortunate not to have been reduced to 10 men early on when goalkeeper Walker escaped a red card. The veteran stopper, equalling Walsall’s all-time record with his 529th appearance, could well have been dismissed on his big day after handling outside the penalty area in a challenge with the onrushing Marc Pugh. Amid Cherries protests, referee Paul Tierney decided a caution would suffice.

But if that was a touch of luck, the Saddlers made the most of it.

Jon Macken needed no second invitation to register his fifth league goal of the campaign on 15 minutes. Receiving the ball from Richard Taundry, the former Preston and Man City forward had the luxury of time and space to control and fire low past Darryl Flahavan.

Things got little better for Cherries as Walsall continued to turn the screw. Fortunately for the Dorset outfit, the Saddlers’ radar was somewhat awry and Mat Sadler could only head a rebound against the crossbar after Flahavan had parried Jamie Paterson’s drive.

But when the second goal did arrive, it was hard to argue it was anything less than Walsall merited. Although Cherries appealed for a free-kick as Taundry’s corner arrived in the danger zone, Tierney was having none of it and Saddlers skipper Andy Butler netted from close range after Alex Nicholls’s low shot had been blocked on the line.

Bradbury’s half-time decision to opt for experience – Stephen Purches replacing Steven Gregory in the engine room – proved wise.

The utility man added much-needed nous and improving Cherries finally found a way back into the game on 62 minutes.

Pugh, outstanding after the break, out-witted Lee Beevers and earned a penalty, which Michael Symes coolly converted.

Fletcher arrived but the contest could have been over had it not been for fantastic blocks from Francis and Flahavan as Macken and Nicholls searched for a decisive third.

With one goal in it, there was always a chance and when Cherries’ opportunity presented itself, it was little surprise who was on the end of it.

Fletcher’s finale sparked trademark celebrations: Shirt off, fists pumped and subsequent yellow card. He will gladly accept the fine.

“If it is the end of this season, the end of next season or if I am still playing and you are interviewing me when I’m 44, it would be fantastic,” insisted Fletcher, when pressed on any potential retirement plans.

As Saturday’s late show demonstrated: Write him off at your peril.