Rampant Cherries turn on the style in Hawks win

AFC Bournemouth development squad booked a place in the quarter-finals of the Servio Hampshire Men's Senior Cup courtesy of a superb 4-1 win over Havant & Waterlooville on Wednesday.

Alan Connell’s team made light work of seeing off a strong Hawks outfit which included no fewer than nine starters from their most recent National South game against Torquay United.

In-form striker Daniel Adu-Adjei started the ball rolling when he finished clinically after 36 minutes, his 12^th goal of the season and sixth in his past four games.

Although James Roberts levelled for the hosts on the stroke of half-time, the Cherries regained the lead through Dominic Sadi seven minutes into the second half.

And substitute Kian Tydeman came off the bench to score twice inside three minutes, his double capping an outstanding and dominant display from a youthful Cherries team.

Victory for the Cherries, who are bidding to reach the final for a second season in succession, saw them extend to ten games their unbeaten run in all competitions, the sequence including nine wins.

Archie Harris and Balraj Landa were both restored to the Cherries starting line-up as boss Connell made two changes following the Premier League Cup win at Norwich on Friday.

Finn Tonks and Max Kinsey were on hand to clear a couple of crosses as the hosts threatened briefly in the early stages.

Tonks’s pass forced Hawks goalkeeper Ross Worner to race off his line and kick the ball against Adu-Adjei, preventing the striker from fashioning a shooting chance.

Dominic Sadi tried his luck from distance after Ben Greenwood’s corner had only been half cleared, the midfielder’s effort from 25 yards flying past the upright.

A promising break started by Kinsey’s through ball to Adu-Adjei ended with Balraj Landa scooping his shot wide of the target after 13 minutes.

And as opportunities continued to come for the Cherries, Adu-Adjei fired narrowly wide after being picked out by Greenwood.

Michael Dacosta Gonzalez added his name to the list of players taking aim, his left-foot strike also off target.

Kinsey, under pressure from Hawks defender Tom Bonner, headed clear Jebb’s teasing free-kick before Roarie Deacon’s drive deflected for a corner.

And after Jebb’s corner had been nodded back into the danger zone by Bonner, Kieran Phillips hooked his shot over the crossbar from close range.

Jebb’s hanging centre was met by Phillips, who headed over the top, before Greenwood lifted his shot from the edge of the box over the top.

Worner produced a top-drawer save to keep out Sadi’s shot after 32 minutes, the Hawks goalkeeper acrobatically pushing his strike from Greenwood’s layoff over the crossbar.

Kinsey saw his thunderous drive flash past the post before the Cherries finally – and deservedly – made the breakthrough in the 36th minute.

Adu-Adjei, teed up by Sadi’s assist, raced into the 18-yard box before arrowing a right-foot shot into the bottom corner and past the despairing dive of Worner.

Worner was twice called into action in quick succession, the goalkeeper falling to his left to smother Tonks’s low shot and doing likewise after Landa had tried his luck.

The hosts levelled on the stroke of half-time when Roberts fastened on to a pass from Phillips before beating Plain with a fierce strike from the edge of the box.

There was still time for the Cherries to create another opportunity in the first half, Dacosta Gonzalez’s thumping drive tipped over by Worner.

The Cherries were quickly out of the blocks at the start of the second half, Adu-Adjei tantalisingly close to restoring their lead when his shot rolled inches past the post.

And although former Cherries youngster Jake McCarthy headed wide for the Hawks, Connell’s team seized the advantage just seven minutes after the break.

A superb move straight off the training pitch saw Greenwood’s deep corner pick out Adu-Adjei totally unmarked at the far post.

And after he had controlled the ball and cushioned it to Sadi, the midfielder curled a sublime left-foot shot past the outstretched hand of Worner and into the back of the net.

As the Cherries went in search of a third goal, Jack Wadham’s 30-yarder was beaten away by Worner before Adu-Adjei slid in and just failed to make good contact with Greenwood’s low cross.

Phillips fired tamely into the hands of Cam Plain when well placed before Worner saved comfortably after Tonks had ended a driving run with a shot on target.

Sadi poked wide after being set up by Tydeman, one of three substitutions made by Connell midway through the second half.

And the changes paid dividends when the Cherries forged further ahead, Tydeman, put in by Adu-Adjei, turned his marker and slotted the ball under Worner in the 70th minute.

Worner saved from Sadi and Tydeman as the young Cherries scented more goals, with a fourth coming after 73 minutes.

The Cherries seized on defensive hesitancy and although Sadi’s initial shot was blocked, another lovely turn from Tydeman saw him sidestep Worner before drilling home, despite the best efforts of McCarthy to block.

Worner saved Dacosta Gonzalez’s low shot from Noa Boutin’s cross before the Cherries winger blazed another chance well wide.

Havant & Waterlooville: Worner, Innocent (Baker, 76), McCarthy (McNerney, 76), Phillips (Stedman, 75), Seager (Busari, 75), Jewitt-White, Jebb, Berkeley-Agyepong, Deacon, Roberts (Mahammad-Kier, 75) Bonner.

Booked: Innocent, Jewitt-White.

AFC Bournemouth: Plain, Tonks, Kinsey, Harris (Boutin, 66), Greenwood, Dacosta Gonzalez, Wadham, Williams (Winterburn, 66), Sadi, Adu-Adjei, Landa (Tydeman, 66).

Unused sub: Crisp (g/k).

Booked: Winterburn.

Referee: Andrew Dunn.