Vince Bartram made two brilliant late saves to earn AFC Bournemouth a point against Fulham at Dean Court this evening.
The Cherries goalkeeper denied Peter Scott when the midfielder burst into the box and looked likely to open the scoring before somehow palming away Martin Pike’s piledriver in the last minute. The visitors had dominated the second half and assistant manager Ray Lewington considered the Whites ‘very unfortunate’ not take all the three points back to London from the south coast.
Glen Thomas, who had earlier cleared off the line to prevent Denny Mundee from giving Bournemouth the lead, spurned a good opportunity to put the Cottagers ahead, whilst Andrew Cole twice failed to hit the target from close range on what became a frustrating night for Fulham. Bournemouth had started the stronger of the two sides with former Fulham favourite Sean O’Driscoll seeing his drive well saved by Jim Stannard.
Stannard also kept out an effort from Mark Morris and, when the Fulham goalkeeper was beaten, Mundee’s effort was scrambled away from underneath his own crossbar by the covering Thomas.
AFC BOURNEMOUTH: Bartram; Bond (Fereday 62), Morris, Watson, Rowland, Mundee, Case, O’Driscoll (Lawrence 70), Holmes, Cooke, Quinn.
FULHAM: Stannard; Eckhardt, G. Thomas, Pike, Marshall, Newson, Cobb (Morgan 75), Onwere, Scott, Brazil, Cole. Subs (not used): Haag.
BOOKED: Onwere.
ATTENDANCE: 6,450.
