The under-18s snatched a late win thanks to Jake Adams' goal three minutes from time in a 1-0 away victory at Leyton Orient on Saturday.

On a challenging pitch and again fielding a young side that included six under-16s due to a host of injuries, the Cherries claimed all three points in their latest Merit League encounter.

Buoyed by the return of second-year midfielder Matt Burgess, in the first half Bournemouth 'keeper Ollie Camis blocked well to keep Orient out, while the away side missed two good chances.

Baylin Johnson couldn't take a chance in front of goal while Abdi Mohamed flicked the ball up and volleyed only to be denied at point-blank range.

In the second half, Adams had a shot saved after a Marcus Daws cutback, though Camis had to be alive to smother a through ball as Orient threatened.

Into the closing stages and Lewis Brown's diagonal pass found Adams' forward run and the forward faced his defender up, took him on and then slotted into the far corner to win the match.

Speaking to afcb.co.uk after the fixture, manager Alan Connell talked through his satisfaction with his side's performance and ability to face the situation placed in front of them.

He said: "When we arrived the pitch was very poor if I'm being honest, but I said to the players before the game that we were there to play our way and pass the ball. Yes it was going to be difficult at times but these are the challenges that we need them to face as young players.

"It was another test of our mentality, could we still be brave enough and composed enough to pass the ball on an extremely difficult pitch? Overall, I was delighted with the boys' application and bravery to play.

"Of course there were mistakes and it didn't always look perfect but there were some clever passages of play as well and we created some good openings off the back of the boys' willingness to play, that was the most pleasing factor today.

"In any game of football obviously you've got to defend but I though we worked ever so hard to be on the front foot and make it difficult for Orient.

"I was delighted with our resilience and desire to keep a clean sheet, even if it had finished 0-0 I would have been happy with the boys' efforts, but to get a winner was great for the boys and for Jake in particular.

"It was such a fine goal to win it, and good for Jake who's been captain in our last three games as one of our two or three older players. That's been a new challenge for him to take on."