Goals from Daniel Adu-Adjei and Michael Dacosta Gonzalez proved not enough, as the AFC Bournemouth development squad were beaten 3-2 at Birmingham City.

A second-half double from striker Romelle Donovan, either side of Menzi Mazwi’s strike meant the Cherries were left to ponder defeat.

The reverse left Alan Connell’s side fourth in the southern section of the Professional Development League, with 45 points from 26 games.

The Cherries had to endure an early scare inside the opening two minutes at St Andrew's.

Birmingham’s Harley Hamilton crossed for Kieran Wakefield, who could only head over from five yards out.

But the Cherries responded and put together some fine moves in the opening period.

Dominic Sadi, fresh off his Premier League debut a day previously, played a neat through ball to Adu-Adjei, who worked keeper Brad Mayo before he was flagged offside.

Playmaker Kian Tydeman then tried his luck from range with a strike that was well held, before Dacosta Gonzalez found space in the box and drilled the ball just past the far post from an acute angle.

But the opener came for the Cherries on 24 minutes through a brilliant team move.

Toure Williams fizzed in a pass for Tydeman, whose deft flick found the run of Adu Adjei to smash home with his left foot.

Adu-Adjei almost had a second when he forced Mayo into another save before Connell’s side doubled their advantage just before the break.

Tydeman’s out-swinging free-kick found the head of Dacosta Gonzalez, who rose highest to glance into the net.

But the Blues rallied in the second period and found themselves level within four minutes of the restart.

Donovan’s powerful effort beat Cal McKenna in the Cherries goal before Mazwi finished into the bottom corner

And after the Blues hit the post via Laiith Fairnie, Donovan popped up with another to win the game and send Birmingham into the play-offs of the northern section.

The Cherries did keep pushing forward and almost found a leveller late on. Archie Harris headed just wide from Finn Tonks’s cross.

AFC Bournemouth: McKenna, Tonks, Greenwood, Brown (Rees-Dottin, 89), Kinsey, Harris, Williams (Stuttle, 78), Sadi, Adu-Adjei, Dacosta Gonzalez, Tydeman (Landa, 69).

Unused subs: Allan, Osborne.

(Images courtesy of Richard James Photography)