Destination final for the development squad

An imposing performance secured passage to the Hampshire Senior Cup final for the development squad following a 6-0 victory over Eastleigh.

Six different scorers ensured an emphatic victory for the Cherries at the Silverlake Stadium.

Michael Dacosta Gonzalez was the only player to net in the first half ahead of five further players bagging after the break.

Max Kinsey-Wellings, Baylin Johnson, David Brooks, Daniel Adu-Adjei and Kian Tydeman were the players to get themselves on the scoresheet.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Cherries threatened the home side early in the tie at the Silverlake Stadium, with Brooks going close early on.

Picking up the ball after Dacosta Gonzalez was tackled inside the 18-yard box, the Welsh winger saw his left-footed strike deflected narrowly wide.

Eastleigh were next to threaten as Harley Stock picked up possession in the box following a deep free-kick and stung Billy Terrell’s palms with a shot.

An entertaining opening 15 minutes then continued through a Dacosta Gonzalez chance which saw him blaze over following a smart cutback from Noa Boutin.

Luka Chalwell was next to threaten, beating Billy Terrell to the ball from a corner but Ben Winterburn was in position on the line to hammer clear.

Connell’s team were the next side to go close as Dacosta Gonzalez again threatened, cutting in from the right and firing a powerful shot narrowly wide.

In an almost carbon-copy move the winger opened the scoring shortly before the half-time break after cutting inside and beautifully curling his shot into the far corner.

The Cherries started the second half as well as they had ended the first, doubling the advantage within five minutes of the restart.

Maintaining pressure in the Spitfires’ half well, Brooks clipped a sensational pass into the path of Kinsey-Wellings before his first touch rounded Lewis Mees and his second applied the finish into an empty net.

Johnson got himself in on the scoring just four minutes later as Bournemouth maintained the second-half dominance.

Driving infield from the left-hand side the wideman dazzled his marker before slamming a rocket beautifully into the top right corner.

Next on the scoresheet was first-teamer Brooks, who calmly slid in a left-footed finish after latching onto an excellent long ball forward from skipper Ben Greenwood.

Two minutes later Adu-Adjei made it five as he provided the simple finish to a Johnson square.

Shortly after being introduced to the action as a substitute, midfielder Tydeman also got himself amongst the goals.

With the Cherries continuing to press to increase the evening’s tally, the second-year scholar prodded home from inside the six-yard box following a goalmouth scramble.

Bournemouth’s six strikes went without reply from the home side and the team comfortably saw out progression to the final.

THE LINE-UP

Only one change was made by Alan Connell to the team which beat a Portsmouth XI 5-2 at Vitality Stadium.

Lewis Brown missed out through injury, meaning he was replaced by winger Michael Dacosta Gonzalez.

AFC Bournemouth: Terrell, Genesini (Tonks, 31), Boutin, Williams, Kinsey-Wellings, Greenwood, Brooks (Tydeman, 68), Winterburn (Okoh, 68), Adu-Adjei, Dacosta Gonzalez, Johnson.

Unused subs: Crisp, Morgan.

WHAT IT MEANS

Victory against Eastleigh secures passage to the Hampshire Senior Cup final for Connell’s development squad.

Coming out on top over the Spitfires complements other wins in the competition against Folland Sports, Tadley Calleva and Portsmouth.

WHO’S NEXT

Following victory for Basingstoke Town in the other semi-final, the Cherries will take on the ‘Stoke in the final.

The home side at Winklebury Sports Complex came out on top emphatically in a 5-0 win over Aldershot Town.