AFC Bournemouth 1 Fulham 0

Premier League

Monday 14 April 2025

Cherries chapter

The context

Our long-awaited 92^nd League ground. It seemed hard to believe we were finally here. Dean Court’s modest size made tickets almost impossibly scarce, so John and I – after years of frustration – eventually gave in and trekked here last November for a women’s game. This secured the precious loyalty points that qualified us for tonight’s basic hospitality package.  

The journey 

welcome

Sky helpfully moved the game at short notice from Saturday afternoon. We therefore booked Premier Inn rooms near Bournemouth station, and – anxious lest anything should go wrong – were driving past Wessex Way’s famous welcome sign not long after midday. Plenty of Fulham fans had already arrived. “Going to football?” enquired the man on reception.   

Flesh and wine

likely

No-one had to drive now until tomorrow morning. Bournemouth’s many civilised tourist attractions accordingly stood little chance against the nearest likely-looking boozer, where several hours passed happily by among assorted cider drinkers, Northern expats and its acerbic Scottish landlady. We departed for the ground nicely oiled and with their kind wishes ringing in our ears. 

tent

Down at Dean Court the King’s Plaza had opened for business. A simple tent offered free food and drink; its strict opening hours were presumably aimed at preventing rowdiness, but these well-intentioned rules actually served only to make everyone drink faster. We felt duty bound to be last out, and somehow remained upright for the last few yards between here and our final turnstile.    

The game

sat down

We had scarcely sat down before Antoine Semenyo loped around statuesque defenders and scored directly in front of us. It should have been 2-0 when Evanilson’s volley struck the bar; Rodrigo Muniz and Ryan Sessegnon then fluffed good chances for Fulham, before visiting ‘keeper Bernd Leno pushed away a goalbound Alex Scott effort at his near post.

pints

Fulham found another gear after the break. Alex Iwobi played particularly well and only Kepa’s excellent save kept him out. But chances had been few in this tight contest between two Europa League hopefuls; we found plenty of thinking time as our precious landmark match ticked towards ninety minutes, and put it to good use by deciding that another few pints were called for.    

Teams and goals

Bournemouth: Kepa, Kerkez, Senesi (Zabarrnyi 46), Huijsen, Smith, Cook, Adams, Ouattara, Scott (Tavernier 65), Semenyo (Soler 89), Evanilson. Unused subs: Araujo, Brooks, Dennis, Hill, Jebbison, Winterburn.  

Fulham: Leno, Robinson, Bassey, Andersen, Castagne, Lukic (Willian 85), Berge (Cairney 59), Iwobi, Pereira (Smith-Rowe 69), Sessegnon (Traore 57), Muniz (Jimenez 57). Unused subs: Benda, Cuenca, Reed, Tete.     

Goal: Semenyo 1.  

Attendance 11,195.