Ajani Burchall and his Bournemouth Under 18 teammates battled back to form with a 4-2 away win at rivals Portsmouth.
Jack Wadham gave Bournemouth an early lead with a controlled finish, Jake Adams completing an excellent move to score the second before Harry Anderson pulled one back for Portsmouth.
Euan Pollock made his own luck and scored a clinical third moments after the restart, though Anderson netted again for the hosts to make things close.
Marcus Daws raised the comfort level again late on as Bournemouth completed their victory.
Alan Connell made one change following the FA Youth Cup disappointment at Exeter, Josh Clarke coming in between the sticks.
In the wind and rain Bournemouth had the ball in the net inside three minutes, Pollock picking up the pieces to convert but seeing the offside flag raised.
The opener was not long in coming, however. Marcus Daws forced his way forward and struck in a shot, saved by ‘keeper Leon Pitman but forcefully slammed home on the rebound by Wadham.
Pollock further tested Pitman while Harry Anderson shot side with Pompey’s first effort.
Burchall surged down the right, crossing low with the ball rebounding to Pollock who hit his effort low. Pitman struggled to deal with it but kept the ball just the right side of the goal line from his perspective.
Midway through the half and the visitors' second arrived after a fantastic flowing move.
Burchall turned into space before playing wide right for Pollock, he found his strike partner Adams who coolly finished into the bottom right corner.
Bournemouth 'keeper Clarke saved comfortably from Harry Jenitt-White, though Anderson halved the deficit closing in on half time when he pounced at the back post from a corner.
Seconds after the restart, Pollock pressed the goalkeeper, won the ball back and slotted home from a tight angle.
Home forward Lee Seokjae had a shot deflect up and gathered by Clarke, chances appearing at both ends despite the Cherries’ controlling lead.
Matt Burgess looked to continue his goal scoring streak with a free-kick from range. The wind was behind the shot but it travelled wide of the target.
The home side made it tight again when Anderson scored his second from inside the six-yard box.
However, Portsmouth comeback was short lived, Daws scoring with a low clean strike after some neat footwork on the edge of the box.
Pollock lofted a chance over in the closing stages, the Cherries comfortably seeing out their win along the south coast.
|
