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Match Report

Three o'clock on May 24th 2003 at the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff. In their first Play-off campaign AFC Bournemouth are about to play perhaps the biggest game in the clubs 104 year history.

Lincoln City kick off, and attacking the Cherries fans make a strong start. Bournemouth stay strong and within five minutes Bournemouth create the fist chance of the game. After god work from Steve Fletcher, Wade Elliot races away, exchanging passes with James Hayter before trying a cheeky backheel which hits a defender, before Elliot swipes the ball over the cross bar. After a poor pass from Marcus Browning it was Lincoln's turn on the attack, luckily for Bournemouth Mayo overran the ball and allowing Neil Young to make a challenge, giving away the first corner of the game.

Steve Fletcher gives Bournemouth fans a scare when he goes down holding his back after an aerial challenge. He receives some medical treatment and a huge sigh of relief is heard form the South end of the ground. After a spell where neither team made much progress Stephen Purches cut inside form the right and curled a shot from 25 yards just over the bar. Then probably to key to the game, the first goal. Good play form Hayter and Elliot resulting in a cross, a knock down from Marcus Browning and a quick turn and shot from Steve Fletcher on the edge of the area. Bournemouth 1-0 Lincoln.

Shortly after the goal Bournemouth look for another. Gareth O'Connor tries his luck with a long range drive which keeper Marriott does well to hold. But Lincoln haven't given up. Within five minutes of the Cherries taking the lead Lincoln have equalised. The second of two corners in a minute proved Bournemouth's down fall. A whipped in corner form the right to the edge of the six yard box saw Ben Futcher head the ball home. Bournemouth 1-1 Lincoln.

Although Lincoln looked to finish the half the stronger side, Bournemouth had other ideas. In stoppage time Gareth O'Connor picked up a loose ball following a corner, he crossed the ball form the let towards the back post where Carl Fletcher met the ball with a glancing header to send Bournemouth in 2-1 up at half time.

The Cherries clearly boosted by the late first half goal began the second half the stronger side. Three corners in two minutes, followed by a Steve Purches shot, had Lincoln under pressure from the off. After Bournemouth bright start it took Lincoln manager Keith Alexander just five minutes to bring on playoff semi-final hero Simon Yeo.

Lincoln received a throw-in on the right. Big Ben Futcher raced up to the penalty area. The ball was thrown towards him but Marcus Browning won the header allowing Neil Moss to punch the ball clear. O'Connor picks the ball up and plays the ball out to James Hayter on the right wing. Elliot overlaps Hayter who then passes Elliot the ball. Elliot races towards the Imps penalty area before cutting in and playing a low cross to the incoming Steve Purches who had only ten seconds earlier been helping the defence out in his own area. Purches didn't hit the ball cleanly, the ball hit the playing surface and then into the back of the net to send the Bournemouth faithful wild. Bournemouth 3-1 Lincoln

Less than five minutes later Bournemouth have hit number four. O'Connor breaking form the left before beating Futcher and placing the ball in the bottom right had corner of the net. Bournemouth 4-1 Lincoln. Although the final looks won Lincoln still push forward, firstly Cropper is through on goal he rounds Moss but hesitates giving Carl Fletcher time to recover and clear the ball off the line. Then Mark Bailey through Lincoln a lifeline. A header after a cross from Connolly that nestled in the back of Neil Moss’ net.

Then the Cherry on top of the cake. To totally destroy any last hopes Lincoln had, O'Connor swung in a free kick and Carl Fletcher met the ball with a superb header to restore the Cherries Division Two status.

Although Lincoln hit the bar late on through Mayo, Bournemouth were the better side on the day and were rightly promoted back to Division Two.

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