Cherries begin pre-season with Real win

AFC Bournemouth started their pre-season programme with an entertaining 4-2 friendly win over Real Balompedica Linense at the Marbella Football Center.

Jaidon Anthony built on a strong start for the Cherries with a well taken opener after 16 minutes but while chances to extend the advantage came and went Linense levelled with ten minutes of the first half when Alusine Konoma struck with power from 16 yards.

Dominic Solanke regained the lead for his side shortly after the start of the second half as he snuck in a shot at the near post, moments later substitute Kyle Taylor netting a well-taken third for his side.

Captain Lloyd Kelly then conceded a penalty which Luis Alcalde confidently placed into the corner.

Taylor was on the scoresheet for a second time when he converted from Ben Greenwood's centre, a goal to finish off the scoring in a lively pre-season opener in Spain.

Scott Parker named a strong line-up for the match at Marbella Football Center, where the Cherries have been based during their training camp in Spain.

Emiliano Marcondes featured in a Cherries shirt for the first time while young defender Zeno Ibsen Rossi was the only starter not to have featured in a competitive fixture for the first team.

Getting under way in the warm evening sunshine, in the early minutes of the contest the Cherries assuredly kept possession in their newly-revealed home kits.

Making progress down the left, Jordan Zemura’s cross caused panic in the Linense area, though the attackers were unable to manufacture sufficient space for a clean strike despite numerous threatening phases.

Alhassan Koroma fired off target for the opposition 12 minutes in with their first real attempt, moments ahead of the Cherries having the best chance yet to break the deadlock.

Anthony’s intelligent pass slipped Philip Billing into the box, his low strike across goal beaten away but only to fellow Dane Marcondes whose shot was blocked.

Moments later the Cherries were ahead, Anthony again in the thick of it to net his side’s first goal of pre-season.

Billing turned provider with a pass into the midfielder’s feet, Anthony pivoting smartly to work the ball onto his right foot and then passing his shot into the far bottom corner with an assured finish.

The action continuing to flow down the Bournemouth left, David Brooks found Zemura in a dangerous position, the left-back cutting inside his man but unable to beat ‘keeper Ignacio Miras who was quickly off his line to smother the shot.

Solanke soon looked to round Miras as he streaked through, only to be foiled by the ‘keeper’s outstretched arm, Billing next in the thick of the action again with an angled shot that was comfortably saved.

Jack Stacey tumbled in the area but wasn’t awarded the penalty he thought he should have been given before Zemura’s feed for Billing ended with a low drive across and through the six-yard box with no attacker able to meet it.

Out of the blue, the sky-coloured opponents scored on the counter, the ball worked across the box from the right and finished cleanly by Konoma who struck a fierce shot past Mark Travers.

Gavin Kilkenny’s low strike from range passed just the wrong side of the upright, Bournemouth unable to re-establish a lead before half time despite their pressure.

Sam Surridge and Taylor replaced Brooks and Marcondes ahead of the restart, Nathan Moriah-Welsh joining them in place of Billing minutes later.

In the 53^rd minute the Cherries were in front once more after some composed forward movement. Taylor played through for Stacey on the byline, his low centre turned home by Solanke at the near post with the ‘keeper taken out of the equation by the pass.

Within 90 seconds two become three, a long shot palmed away by Miras but only to Taylor who controlled his volley into the roof of the net to make his side’s lead more commanding.

As Bournemouth looked to be asserting full control on proceedings they gave the Spanish side an opportunity from the spot after a Kelly foul – Alcalde making no mistake with his clean effort from 12 yards. 

Back on the attack at the other end, Anthony worked his way into the box before stabbing the ball to Zemura, the full-back's right-footed shot going the wrong side of the near post.

Taylor swung a boot at substitute Greenwood's cross from the left, the ball bobbling off target.

The replacements coming thick and fast, Christian Saydee tried his luck from range though his shot deflected off a retreating defender and behind for a corner. 

The Cherries now fielding an increasingly young line up, Greenwood and Taylor combined again for their side's fourth, the midfielder netting his second of the game with a composed finish from 12 yards following a cutback.

Sam Surridge finished off a flowing move with a good volleyed strike, only to see the assistant's flag raised for a slender offside call.

Their opposition tiring, the Cherries pressured the Spanish side until the final whistle as the younger players pushed their claims for further game time in the upcoming pre-season fixtures.