CHERRIES boss Sean O'Driscoll admits he faces a "difficult decision" over whether Gareth Stewart or Chris Tardif should replace Neil Moss.

O'Driscoll's goalkeeping dilemma was heightened after Cherries were held to a 1-1 draw in the second round of the FA Cup at Southend on Saturday.

Moss is not eligible for the replay as his loan spell expires at the weekend and his departure means either Stewart or Tardif will be drafted in to face the Shrimpers at Dean Court on Tuesday.

But due to the postponement of a succession of reserve games, Moss's replacement will be lacking in match practice when he returns to the firing line.

O'Driscoll, who has already seen four different players don the goalkeeping gloves this season, said: "One of them will be disappointed and one of them won't, although they are both quite capable of coming in. They both deserve to play because their attitudes have been tremendous and they've worked extremely hard.

"I just don't want to get into a situation where we chop and change so hopefully one of them will stamp their authority on it and become the number one 'keeper and the other one will work hard to try to get the jersey.

"There's a friendly rivalry because they work hard together and it will be a difficult decision."

Although both Stewart and Tardif have been training regularly, the duo have had limited match action as Cherries have played just three reserve games in the past 11 weeks.

And by sharing the goalkeeping duties, the pair have managed just a game-and-a-half each, with Tardif restricted to 45 minutes in the past two months.

Stewart has made one start and one substitute appearance for the reserves since returning to action at the end of October.

The 22-year-old, Cherries' first-choice for the past two years, suffered ankle ligament damage in training on the eve of the new season and was sidelined for 11 weeks.

In his absence, Tardif was drafted in on loan at the 11th hour from Ports-mouth, but he sustained a nasty facial injury during Cher-ries' Worthington Cup defeat by Brentford in September.

As a result, O'Driscoll was again forced to scour the loan market and, with the help of Player-share, Cherries were able to afford to sign former stopper Moss who has been ever present in their last 18 games.

With the reserves' trip to Bristol City on Monday in doubt due to Cherries FA Cup replay, the club organised a hastily-arrang-ed behind-closed-doors friendly against Portsmouth at Fratton Park yesterday.

And again, Stewart and Tardif, who have also been sharing bench duty for the first team recently, were both given 45 minutes as Cherries went down to a 4-0 defeat.

Cherries assistant boss Peter Grant said: "Neil Moss has done very well, but both Gareth and Chris are more than capable of doing the same and it's up to one of them to grab the spot."