Feeney joy followed by injury agony

From the Echo, first published Saturday 18th Oct 2003.

WARREN FEENEY gave Bournemouth an early lead against their south coast rivals but his joy turned to pain when he went off with what looked like a bad injury.

The south coast derby was quick to start simmering with Bournemouth's Neil Young yellow carded after only six minutes for a foul on Nathan Jones. Jones swung the resulting free kick in from the left and Neil Moss was smartly out to make a good catch.

Brighton kept the initiative and Chris McPhee tested the Cherries keeper from 20 yards.

But it was Cherries who took the lead from their first real attack after 13 minutes. Wade Elliott was the architect with a cross which James Hayter hit right-footed from the right edge of the box. It was parried by Brighton keeper Michel Kuipers but Warren Feeney was on hand to score from close range.

Cherries quickly threatened again through Purches who had a shot pushed away by Kuipers.

Brighton responded with Zeshan Rehman testing Moss then Cherries changed the direction of play and Hayter drove wide from Carl Fletcher's pass.

Cherries suffered a real bodyblow on 27 minutes when they lost goalscoring hero Feeney with looked like a serious injury. He was immediately replaced by Alan Connell.

Moss was in action again after 35 minutes, saving a strong long-range effort from Hart. When Jones fouled Connell at the other end, Gareth O'Connor took the free kick and lifted it over the bar.

Carl Fletcher extended Kuipers with a header right on half-time.

From another of O'Connor's free kicks, Elliott had a shot blocked by Carpenter. Then Mayo was booked for fouling Elliott.

Purches kept up the pressure on the Seagulls with a shot which Kuipers saved. Connell was next to test Kuipers from 25 yards then later with a close-range effort.

TEAMCHECK BOURNEMOUTH: Moss, Young, Purches, Broadhurst, Carl Fletcher, O'Connor, Browning, Hayter, Elliott, Feeney, Steve Fletcher. Subs: Stewart, Connell, Thomas, Tindall, Stock. BRIGHTON: Kuipers, Mayo, Butters, Cullip, Hinshelwood, Jones, Rehman, Carpenter, Hart, Knight, McPhee. Subs: Watson, Pethick, Harding, Flitney, Robinson. Referee: G Hegley (Hertfordshire)