Awesome Adu-Adjei nets dramatic winner

Daniel Adu-Adjei’s stoppage-time goal clinched victory for the development squad in dramatic fashion against Charlton Athletic.  

The Cherries had defeated their south London opponents convincingly in the Premier League Cup last week but found a more resilient side at Wimborne Town.

Alan Connell had made one change to the team as Nathan Moriah-Welsh replaced Ben Winterburn in the starting XI, with Ben Greenwood returning to the bench following an injury absence.

Goalkeeper Cameron Plain made a big save in the tenth minute to prevent the visitors opening the scoring. Daniel Kanu found himself in a one-on-one situation but Plain kept himself big to make a good block.

Having netted a brace in his last outing, Daniel Adu-Adjei is a player on form but he was unable to put the Cherries ahead. Noa Boutin had burst down the left touchline and delivered a great cross, but Adu-Adjei could only poke wide.

Roving right-back Finn Tonks beautifully plucked a cross-field pass out of the sky and drove into the area, but his eventual finish was well stopped.

Charlton went close twice from corners, the first involving a clever routine which found Henry Rylah at the edge of the box but smashed over. The second found Richard Chin unmarked with the goal gaping, only to side-foot wide.

Plain made another good stop on the stroke of half-time as both teams searched for the breakthrough, making a great stop with his feet from Matt Dench’s shot.

The second half continued in much of the same fashion, with both teams coming close to scoring.

Substitute Tolu Ladapo made a good run beyond the defence to the right side of the area, but his arrowed effort missed the far corner.

Adu-Adjei went closest with a strong individual effort, receiving the ball on the run and shifting onto his right foot inside the area, watching his powerful drive crash against the post.

The opener could have come with eight minutes remaining when Balraj Landa’s shot appeared destined for the bottom corner, but a superb goal-line clearance kept the scores level.

The game seemed set for a goalless draw until the contribution of Adu-Adjei in stoppage time, rising highest from a free-kick to power a header into the corner and spark jubilant celebrations.

AFC Bournemouth: Plain, Tonks, Wadham, Kinsey, Boutin, Williams, Moriah-Welsh (Greenwood 61), Sadi, Dacosta Gonzalez (Rees-Dottin 90), Adu-Adjei, Landa (Winterburn 90+2).

Unused subs: Crisp, Okoh.