Cherries: Goulding is the most unlikely of heroes for Howe

10:56pm Monday 15th March 2010

By Ian Wadley

A BRILLIANT finish from substitute Jeff Goulding sealed a thrilling and deserved point for Cherries in tonight’s promotion showdown at Meadow Lane.

The former non-league star struck with a fine 12-yard volley as Eddie Howe’s men left it late – very late – to claim a 2-2 draw against in-form Notts County.

Magpies, with four consecutive wins under the management of former Dean Court striker Steve Cotterill, looked to have done enough to see off spirited Cherries.

A goal in each half from top scorer Lee Hughes – either side of a Brett Pitman free-kick – had put the hosts in charge.

But Cherries refused to throw in the towel and they got their reward when Goulding, without a goal during this injury-plagued campaign, came good just when his team needed him most.

Cherries’ nine-day break between matches proved sufficient for Liam Feeney to recover from injury, so the winger replaced Josh McQuoid in Howe’s starting line-up.

And in front of the Sky TV cameras, the promotion hopefuls served up an entertaining contest.

The eagerly anticipated clash kicked off in a cauldron of noise, with loud chants led by the home support in the Kop Stand as County claimed an early corner.

Cherries responded moments later as Anton Robinson struck a low drive from 20 yards, which brought a sharp save from Kasper Schmeichel.

Keen to silence the Meadow Lane faithful, Howe’s men came agonisingly close to a goal in the fifth minute. When Magpies failed to deal with a Rhoys Wiggins corner, the ball fell nicely for Alan Connell, but his shot was hacked off the line by County skipper John Thompson with Schmeichel beaten.

Cherries, quick to utilise the speed of Feeney on the right flank, again found joy through that tactic when Pitman brilliantly released the winger. But his low, powerful shot was kept out by the solid Schmeichel, with the rebound just out of reach for the onrushing Steve Fletcher.

The game swung in Magpies’ favour, though, when they opened the scoring slightly against the run of play on 22 minutes. The lively Ben Davies turned inside Wiggins and went down under the left-back’s challenge, and referee Colin Webster had no hesitation in awarding what looked a clear penalty.

And although Hughes’s weak spot kick was kept out by Shwan Jalal, County’s talisman was on hand to fire home the easiest of rebounds.

Enlivened, Magpies went in search of a second. Stand-in centre-half Marvin Bartley produced a superb covering tackle on Luke Rodgers to keep the hosts at bay, before the impressive Davies saw a neat lob ruled out for offside.

Despite creating less chances towards the end of the first half, the visitors wasted little time in pressing forward on the resumption and got back into the game within five minutes – thanks to Pitman.

Connell won a free-kick 20 yards from goal and the Jerseyman threaded a low shot through a crowded penalty area and beyond Schmeichel – his 20th goal of a fine season.

However, Cherries could only manage to stay on terms for just four minutes as they conceded a soft second. Davies was allowed time to compose himself and deliver a teasing cross from the right and Hughes was left unopposed to head high past Jalal at the far post.

Howe freshened up his frontline by introducing Goulding for Fletcher on the hour and, with the hosts appearing content to try to close out the match, Cherries warmed to their task.

As they looked to unlock the Magpies defence – the division’s meanest on home turf – chances began to come.

A neat exchange between Connell and Goulding almost came off, before the energetic Robinson then saw a firm drive blocked after some neat footwork had evaded the attentions of Hunt in the right channel.

Cotterill switched to a five-man midfield, with one up front, and in a bid to counter Cherries’ attacking endeavours he sent on experienced midfielder Jamie Clapham to protect the County backline.

But Cherries continued to push and a glorious opportunity to seal a point came with three minutes remaining. A superb cross from Wiggins found Pitman and he connected well with a diving header, only to see Schmeichel parry the effort. Feeney, well placed for the rebound, could only find the side netting.

All was not lost, though, and Cherries did get another opportunity to level – and they took it with delight.

Bradbury was the provider and, when the veteran utility man picked out Goulding in the centre, the substitute produced surely one of the most important goals of his career to send Cherries home happy.