AFC Bournemouth secured progression to the knockout stage of the Premier League Cup thanks to a comprehensive 5-1 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers on Monday.

The Cherries eased to the top of Group C with two games remaining, seeing off Wolves with a dominant performance in a behind-closed-doors clash at Eastleigh’s Silverlake Stadium.

Nathan Moriah-Welsh, who was handed the skipper’s armband by boss Alan Connell, led from the front and drew first blood for the Cherries five minutes before half-time.

The squad celebrated his goal by heading to the technical area, grouping together and holding up Jaidon Anthony's shirt after the Cherries winger's mother Donna passed away unexpectedly last weeek. 

Dan Adu-Adjei doubled the hosts’ advantage in first-half stoppage time, the striker registering his 17^th goal of the season with Kian Tydeman supplying both assists.

Dom Sadi’s finely-taken double early in the second half – his first a goal of the season contender – was added to when substitute Ash Clarke scored with his first touch to make it 5-0.

Cam Plain was the first goalkeeper to be seriously tested after 12 minutes, beating away Marvin Kaleta’s stinging drive at his near post.

The Cherries had an escape when Owen Farmer’s let fly just seconds later, his effort taking a deflection and coming crashing back off the crossbar.

Plain pulled off a top-drawer save to prevent Aaron Keto-Diyawa drawing first blood, the Cherries goalkeeper acrobatically clawing away the Wolves man’s hooked shot.

For all their early pressure, the visitors will count themselves a touch fortunate not to have gone behind in the 19^th minute when in-form Dan Adu-Adjei headed Dom Sadi’s cross past the post.

And Wolves goalkeeper Lewis Benjamin then had to get down smartly to smother Nathan Moriah-Welsh’s fierce drive from 25 yards which was heading for the bottom corner.

As the Cherries began to assert, Benjamin saved well from Sadi after Adu-Adjei had laid the ball into his path and from Moriah-Welsh who tried his luck from 20 yards.

A lovely turn from Kian Tydeman created some space for an opening, his shot blocked by Wolves defender Fil Mabete midway through the first half.

Michael Dacosta Gonzalez lifted his shot over the crossbar following some slick build-up play involving Moriah-Welsh and Tydeman before Farmer did likewise at the opposite end.

Benjamin foiled Moriah-Welsh for a third time in the 36^th minute, the Wolves goalkeeper clutching his 25-yarder which was arrowing towards the top corner.

However, he was not to be denied in the 40^th minute, Moriah-Welsh giving Benjamin no chance when he drove low into the corner after Finn Tonks and Tydeman had combined to fashion the opening.

Adu-Adjei doubled the Cherries’ lead in first-half stoppage time, the striker turning sharply in the box and rifling home emphatically from close range having been teed up by Tydeman.

Ben Winterburn twice went close to extending the Cherries’ lead at the start of the second half, the defender heading Tydeman’s free-kick against the crossbar and seeing his follow-up effort saved.

But there was no reprieve for the visitors in the 51^st minute, Sadi finding the top corner with a thunderous drive from 20 yards, a goal of the season contender.

The midfielder quickly added his second and the Cherries’ fourth, Sadi curling a precise left-foot shot past the outstretched hand of Benjamin from the edge of the box after being set free by Moriah-Welsh’s pass in the 56^th minute.

Connell’s team were indebted to Max Kinsey for preserving their clean sheet, the defender stretching every sinew to head Fetcher Holman’s header off the line.

Moriah-Welsh, again teed up by Tydeman’s artistry, went close to making it 5-0 when his angled drive flashed past the upright.

Substitute Clarke netted with his first touch just two minutes after coming off the bench, the striker sweeping home Adu-Adjei’s inviting cross in the 76th minute. 

Wolves substitute Kam Kandola headed a late consolation for the visitors in added time.

AFC Bournemouth: Plain, Tonks, Boutin, Brown (Landa, 74), Winterburn, Kinsey (Holman,79), Moriah-Welsh, Sadi, Adu-Adjei (Stuttle, 78), Dacosta Gonzalez, Tydeman (Clarke, 74).

Unused sub: Allan (g/k).

Booked: Landa.

Wolverhampton Wanderers: Benjamin, Kaleta (Birtwhistle, 62), Tipton, Mabete (Chiwome, 63), Pond, Keto-Diyawa, Whittingham, Barnett, Lopes (Esen, 35), Farmer, Holman (Kandola, 78).

Booked: Barnett, Whittingham, Esen.

Unused sub: Storer.

Referee: Aaron Farmer.