Cherries start pre-season with Dons win

A Callum Wilson double in the first half followed by a late Ryan Fraser winner mean AFC Bournemouth start pre-season with a win.

AFC Bournemouth got their pre-season campaign started with a narrow 3-2 victory over AFC Wimbledon, Ryan Fraser scoring late to win it after the Dons had pulled the Cherries back from two goals ahead.

Callum Wilson got the pre-season scoring under way with two well-taken goals inside the opening 25 minutes in La Manga, the Cherries comfortable and two goals up against the League One side at half time.

Eddie Howe's 11 was completely changed in time for the second half, Mike Folivi registering a penalty for the Dons moments after the restart - a second spot kick minutes later enabling Joe Pigott to equalise.

Fraser regained the lead for the Cherries as he finished off a move with clinical finish and with the Spanish sun setting it was enough to settle the scoreline in Bournemouth's favour.

The Cherries manager split his squad into two halves for the game, Lloyd Kelly pulling on a Cherries shirt for the first time from the off, with Dominic Solanke and captain Wilson leading the line in a first-half 11 that also included a number of young players and former Dons loanee Aaron Ramsdale in goal.

Stationed at left-back, Kelly was quickly forward, played into the box by Alex Dobre but seeing his cross cut out by 'keeper Nik Tzanev. Wilson soon pounced to round Tzanev but his centre from a tight angle found only the side netting.

A burst of pace saw Solanke into space, waiting for the overlap down the left he instead stepped inside and struck a low 20-yard effort that Tzanev was always behind.

With Wimbledon deeper into their pre-season schedule than the Cherries, the play was fairly even, that was until Wilson scored in the 15th minute. The England man again circumnavigated the 'keeper after sensing David Brooks' clever ball forwards, on this occasion the frontman having the time and space to dribble into an unguarded net.

Next Brooks' low drive couldn't be converted by the outstretched boot of Solanke, the Cherries well on top by the midway point of the half. A flowing move almost led to a second, Solanke's shot blocked from Dobre's cross.

The second goal did come shortly afterwards, however, Wilson producing a high-quality finish when through on goal, his swerving shot from just outside the box over the 'keeper and into the top corner.

The pacey Kelly was soon in a good attacking position again, feeding onto Dobre's pass and delivering a cross that was put over the bar at the near post by the hat-trick hunting Wilson.

Ramsdale did well to get down quickly and repel Dylan Connolly's angled cross shot as the half neared its conclusion, though the Cherries' defence was rarely troubled in the opening 45 minutes.

As expected, there were 11 changes to the Bournemouth side during the interval, new signing Jack Stacey among those introduced.

However, within 60 seconds of the restart the Dons were back in the game thanks to a penalty, given after Dan Gosling had tugged back striker Folivi. Half-time change Folivi took responsibility himself and rifled low past the incoming Asmir Begovic from the spot to halve the arrears.

The Cherries were soon back on the offensive only to concede a second penalty on 53 minutes when a cross was perhaps harshly adjudged to be handballed by Stacey. Pigott took this time, struck low into the other corner, again finding the net.

Fraser tested new Dons 'keeper Nathan Trott with a curling free-kick and with the Bournemouth pressure growing Joshua King fed for Sam Surridge whose shot was again well saved. Matt Butcher next passed for Gosling to shoot from the edge of the area, Trott gathering low down. 

Wimbledon linking well, Pigott hit the outside of the post with a low effort after Folivi had pulled the ball back to his strike partner, though it was Bournemouth who scored the game's fifth goal to re-establish their advantage.

With just over ten minutes remaining it was Fraser who netted the Cherries' third, profiting from a good Nathan Ake ball over the Dons' defence and firing a bouncing ball under the 'keeper.

Pigott caused danger again with a shot from the apex that was parried by Begovic, Wimbledon looking for a leveller late in proceedings.

Time soon ran out on a balmy night in Spain though, the Cherries claiming their tight win in a well-contested pre-season exercise.