Two in a row as Cherries turn the tide

7:00am Monday 29th September 2008

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By Ian Wadley »

CONSISTENCY - that most precious and sought-after trait in football - finally graced Dean Court with its presence on Saturday - and not before time.

Success is usually built on the ability to string strong results together and this is something which has eluded the Dorset club, both last season and at the start of this term.

So much so that Cherries' loyal followers had every right to arrive at Dean Court for their Saturday afternoon entertainment filled with trepidation, not sure whether to expect a performance of brilliance or bleakness when their heroes took the field.

Fortunately, in Jimmy Quinn, Cherries have a manager who seems plainly unwilling to let standards dip alarmingly from one week to the next.

Having beaten Bradford City handsomely last week, the worry was that Cherries could again fail to follow up their good work on the road.

But memories of those dark days against Exeter and Port Vale - toothless efforts which ultimately cost Kevin Bond his job - as well as the recent Macclesfield failure, were consigned to the back of the mind as Cherries' battling players flourished in the south coast sunshine against a much-fancied Darlington side.

Faced with another promotion-chasing team, Quinn's men meted out much the same type of punishment suffered by the Bantams seven days earlier.

Playing with freedom and verve in their new formation, the players again came alive.

Gone was the defending which left spectators covering their eyes, replaced by a solid-performing back three.

Also put to one side was the shot-shy, uncreative forward play, making way for a different system which is bringing out the best in diminutive schemer Sammy Igoe, who again prompted Cherries' attacking moves with an industrious display.

After a brief scare which saw Shwan Jalal tip over a fierce effort from David Poole, Cherries found their feet.

Darlo's front pairing of Billy Clarke and Liam Hatch arrived with big reputations, but it was a less lauded striker who played a key role in the game's opening goal on 15 minutes.

Rookie Jeff Goulding, Cherries' recent capture from non-league, made the most of a stray pass from visiting captain Steve Foster to run at goal.

Having beaten a defender, the ex-Fisher Athletic forward struck a shot and, when keeper Simon Brown blocked the low effort with his legs, Marvin Bartley was on hand to register his first strike of the season.

Busy Bartley again found himself involved as the hosts gained the upper hand and twice came close to extending the lead.

He and Danny Hollands linked to find Warren Cummings on the left and, when he delivered a pinpoint cross to Igoe on the penalty spot, the lively midfielder made a rare mistake by scuffing his left-foot shot well wide.

Bartley then teed up captain Darren Anderton to try his luck from 25 yards but the former England international's curling effort lacked power and Brown saved comfortably.

Despite their aesthetically pleasing play and dominance, Cherries were made to pay for not extending their lead when Darlo drew level 10 minutes before the break.

An inswinging free-kick was not dealt with and the impressive Hatch jumped highest to loop a header over Jalal.

Parity lasted just two minutes, however, as the hosts made the most of some more terrible Darlington defending - and a huge slice of good fortune - to regain their one-goal advantage.

Quakers centre-half Alan White was the man to blame for squandering possession and, when presented with the ball, Igoe set about attacking the visitors' unprotected back four.

He advanced on goal and tried to thread a ball through to Goulding, only for Darlington right-back Neil Austin to deflect the ball into his own net, much to the delight and amusement of the home faithful.

Cherries then had a huge escape when David Poole was adjudged to be offside when firing past Jalal on the stroke of half-time.

Stand-in referee Richard Martin was the centre of the second-half action when tempers flared after Bartley and Jason Kennedy both flew into a 50-50 tackle, but it was all smiles again for Cherries as they sealed the win deep in added time.

Brett Pitman, whose arrival in place of Anderton had been disgracefully booed by a small section of the home crowd, silenced his doubters with a brilliant finish.

The goal rounded off a 3-1 win - the same scoreline as last week, produced by the same starting XI, playing in the same system.

How's that for consistency?