U18s strike late to sink Pompey
AFC Bournemouth
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The under-18s fired late to win a thrilling game with Portsmouth 2-1 away from home on Saturday.
The Cherries dominated the first half, Baylin Johnson denied at point-blank range while Max Kinsey-Wellings also threatened with a header.
The Cherries were finally ahead on the stroke of half time when Daniel Adu-Adjei redirected Johnson's cross into the net to open the scoring, the striker notching his tenth of the season.
Into the second half and Pompey rallied, the contest becoming increasingly absorbing, though Marcus Daws almost got a second for the visitors when hitting the woodwork from a free-kick.
The hosts then equalised before Ollie Camis kept Pompey out by making a good save down low to his left. Bournemouth remained in the ascendancy however, Ben Winterburn thwarted only by a good save.
Daws dragged an effort wide, substitute Michael Dacosta Gonzalez going close with two shots before the winner arrived via his boot late in the game.
Winterburn fed Dacosta Gonzalez who drifted past three defenders before firing a low shot into the bottom corner, the Cherries seeing out the game well through injury time.
After the match manager Alan Connell gave his reaction to afcb.co.uk, enjoying an experience that was beneficial for both teams.
"It was a brilliant game for both sets of players in their development," he said. "It ebbed and flowed and was everything an under-18s game should be; played in the right spirit and an exciting game to watch.
"In the first half I thought we were excellent, we controlled the game and created good openings. It was frustrating we didn't score earlier than we did but I was delighted on the stroke of the interval with Daniel's close-range finish.
"Second half and we knew that Portsmouth would come back at us and they did, but I felt the control and the composure we played with was pleasing. We used the ball really well, though unfortunately got done with a sucker punch to make it 1-1.
"The game then became emotional but I felt that we stayed in control. We carried on playing our football, but not just our way as we still had to work ever so hard out of possession, a feature of our game today, the way we pressed and competed for first and second balls.
"I said to the boys afterwards that if they continue to work hard then hopefully they'll get those opportunities.
"We were just lacking that last little bit but thankfully in injury time Michael produced that moment of magic that we know he's capable of, it was a great feeling for everyone when he scored.
"Overall, it was probably our most consistent game of the season over 90 minutes, I was really pleased with everyone's efforts."
Connell struggled to name just one player worthy of praise, though was pleased for Dacosta Gonzalez to score on familiar soil as well as having Daws back among the action across the fixture.
"I could go with many players," said the manager. "Michael's a Portsmouth boy so he was absolutely delighted to score the winner.
"Today was a team effort, it was great to have Marcus back fit, his first 90 minutes after an injury and he's a key player for us.
"The boys as a team were excellent and it's important that we keep that momentum up and going forwards in the coming weeks."