ISLE of Wight loyalties will take a back seat tonight when Brentford goalkeeper Simon Moore bids to get one over neighbours Lee Bradbury and Shaun Cooper.

Moore, who hails from Lake near Shanklin, joined the Bees in 2009 after being recommended to them by ex-Cherries youth coach Dennis Cooper – Shaun’s father.

At the time, Moore, who started out as a 16-year-old in the Wessex League with Brading, was facing an uncertain future having just been released by Farnborough.

But following a tip from fellow Island resident Dennis, who was on the scouting staff at Griffin Park, former Bees boss Andy Scott gave him his chance in the big time.

Moore, 21, has remained eternally grateful to Dennis and presented him with his commemorative shirt following Brentford’s Johnstone’s Paint Trophy final clash with Carlisle at Wembley last year.

“If it hadn’t been for Dennis, I wouldn’t be doing what I am now,” said Moore, in an interview with the Daily Echo. “I have worked hard to get where I am but he got me my chance.

“I have gone from number three to number two and am now fighting Richard Lee for the number one shirt. I have learned a lot and it has been a great experience.

“I worked in a bank for six months after leaving school and then worked in a primary school as a teaching assistant to children with special needs. If I hadn’t become a footballer, I probably would have pursued a career in teaching.”

Moore watched from the stand when Cherries were beaten 6-0 by Brentford in the JPT in November and was on the bench for the 1-1 draw in League One on Boxing Day.

He was drafted in after first-choice Richard Lee had been taken ill against Carlisle last month and has kept his place ever since.

Moore added: “We knew the league game against Bournemouth would be a lot different from the JPT tie. Bournemouth are a very good side and have done well. They have made some very good signings. They have had a similar season to us and not quite been able to get a run going.

“They did very well in getting to the play-offs last season and it was always going to be difficult to get off to a good start following that disappointment.

“You could tell from the celebration on Saturday that they were delighted to stop their recent run of defeats. It is going to be a good game and both teams have still got a chance of getting in the play-offs.

“We have been a little inconsistent and you need consistency to get out of this league. Anything can happen in this division and there have been some crazy results. There seems to be an upset almost every week and both teams will be fighting to reach the play-offs until the end.”

Cherries: (from) Flahavan, Francis, Cook, Addison, Daniels, Fogden, MacDonald, Cooper, Pugh, McDermott, Thomas, Arter, Malone, Stockley, Gregory, Zubar.

Bees: (from) Moore, Logan, Bidwell, Dean, Legge, Douglas, Forshaw, McGinn, Diagouraga, Donaldson, Berahino, Osborne, Forrester, German, Thompson, Lee.