Connell's heroes claim FA Youth Cup scalp
AFC Bournemouth
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Midas man Jake Scrimshaw maintained his hot streak in front of goal to set up the Cherries' famous FA Youth Cup win over ten-man Aston Villa at Vitality Stadium.
Scrimshaw's clinical second-half double propelled Alan Connell's charges into the quarter-finals for only the second time in the club's history.
It was a huge feather in the cap for Connell and his Cherries young guns as they saw off category one opposition to book a place in the last eight where they will host two-time winners Manchester City.
Scrimshaw, the hat-trick hero of the Cherries' fourth round triumph against Oxford United last month, drew first blood with a superb header from a 53rd-minute cross from Harvey Bertrand, younger brother of Southampton and England defender Ryan Bertrand.
And Scrimshaw took to 37 his personal goal tally for a productive season when he added a second with another wonderful strike deep into stoppage-time.
Villa were reduced to ten men when striker Jacob Ramsey was dismissed for a poor challenge on Christian Saydee inside the opening three minutes.
Ramsey, who netted twice in their third and fourth round wins, received a straight red card from referee Jack Packman.
Although Saydee was given a lengthy spell of treatment on the pitch, he was unable to continue and was stretchered off and replaced by Connor Kurran-Browne.
Villa fashioned the first two shooting chances, with Tyreik Wright’s effort deflected for a corner and Jake Walker’s 20-yarder flashing past the post.
The Cherries found opportunities hard to come by in the opening exchanges, although they were tidy in possession without being overly creative.
Ben Guy’s snapshot failed to trouble Calum Ward before the Cherries goalkeeper made a smart save to keep out Indiana Vassilev’s close-range effort.
Cherries midfielder Jake Cope tried his luck from the edge of the box after 29 minutes but his low drive was saved comfortably by Villans stopper Viljami Sinisalo.
Sinisalo also got behind another speculative shot from Cope before Nathan Moriah-Welsh’s rasping drive from 20 yards fizzed narrowly over the crossbar.
Despite being starved of chances in the early stages, the Cherries grew into the game and finished the first half the stronger of the two teams.
And as the opening period drew to a close, Luke Nippard’s strike was fumbled around the post by Sinisalo.
Although Scrimshaw beat Sinisalo to Brooklyn Genesini's near-post cross at the start of the second half, the Cherries striker headed wide under pressure from the Villa goalkeeper.
But Scrimshaw was not to be denied when he broke the deadlock with an exquisite header after 53 minutes.
Having given his marker the slip, Scrimshaw arrived at the near post and planted Bertrand's cross over the advancing Sinisalo and into the top corner of the net.
Wright took aim as the visitors went in search of a quick leveller but his fierce drive cleared the crossbar.
And after Vassilev had created space on the edge of the box, he saw his shot flash past the upright midway through the second half.
Scrimshaw squeezed between two defenders to meet Tom Hanfrey's 73rd-minute centre, only to see his header fly over the crossbar.
Dominic Revan headed over following a Villa free-kick before Genesini raced into the visitors' 18-yard box and fired narrowly wide.
Revan's thunderous drive was beaten away by Ward three minutes from time before Scrimshaw capped a memorable night for the Cherries young guns when he doubled their lead in injury-time.
The prolific marksman made no mistake when he rifled home from the edge of the 18-yard box having been set free by Luke Pardoe's through ball.