AFC Bournemouth
AFC Bournemouth and QPR played out an entertaining 2-2 draw as honours finished even in their Professional Development League top-of-the-table clash.
The Cherries reached the break leading 2-0 thanks to goals from Balraj Landa and Daniel Adu-Adjei in the space of three first-half minutes at Hanwell Town’s Powerday Stadium.
But the Group South table-toppers hit back in the second half with Micah Anthony making it 2-1 in the 70th minute and Kieran Petrie restoring parity nine minutes later, the draw seeing the Cherries extend to 11 games their unbeaten run in all competitions.
Boss Alan Connell made one change to his starting line-up following the Servio Men’s Hampshire Senior Cup win at Havant & Waterlooville with Noa Boutin replacing Archie Harris following his loan move to Torquay.
Petrie seized on a headed clearance from QPR goalkeeper Matteo Salamon before embarking on a jinking run which ended with Cam Plain saving his low shot.
And as play quickly switched to the opposite end, Noa Boutin fastened on to a pass down the line and fired narrowly wide of the upright from a tight angle.
Although a wicked deflection wrongfooted Plain after Petrie had again taken aim, the Cherries goalkeeper recovered in time to make the save.
Landa opened the scoring in the 17th minute, the frontman unleashing an unstoppable drive past Salaman from just inside the 18-yard box after being picked out by Noa Boutin.
And the Cherries quickly doubled their lead when Adu-Adjei finished a sweeping move involving Dominic Sadi and Boutin, the striker netting with a first-time shot in the 19th minute to register his 13th goal of the season.
It could have been three just minutes later when another slick team move including some intricate passing ended with Sadi seeing his stinging drive beaten away by Salamon.
Adu-Adjei just failed to make contact with a driven, low centre from Finn Tonks before Micah Anthony profited from a slip by Max Kinsey and lifted his shot over the crossbar.
The lively Sadi worked an opening after holding off his marker near the byline, only for Salamon to save with his foot at his near post.
And as the first half drew to a close, Ben Greenwood’s free-kick from around 30 yards flew wide of Salamon’s left-hand post.
Plain smothered Anthony’s cross at the start of the second half before Kinsey blocked with his head after the same player had let fly with a thunderous drive.
Harry Murphy’s free-kick was confidently claimed by Plain before Petrie slid in to meet Alfie Lloyd’s cross, the winger’s shot drifting past the post.
Sadi twice went close to extending the Cherries’ lead midway through the second period, his initial shot from Tonks’s cross cleared off the line, his second deflected over the crossbar.
Plain made a top-drawer save to keep out Alfie Tuck’s effort from the edge of the box, the goalkeeper diving full length to his right to parry it around the post.
However, from the resultant corner taken by Murphy, the hosts halved the deficit when Anthony bundled the ball home from close range in the 70th minute.
Dacosta Gonzalez was foiled by Salamon as he looked to restore the visitors’ two-goal lead, the QPR goalkeeper parrying his fierce drive.
The hosts levelled 11 minutes from time when Petrie applied a cushioned finish to Anthony’s low cross, the winger finding the bottom corner of the net.
AFC Bournemouth: Plain, Tonks, Boutin, Wadham, Kinsey, Greenwood, Williams, Sadi, Adu-Adjei, Dacosta Gonzalez (Pollock, 87), Landa (Tydeman, 64). Unused subs: Okoh, Brown, Crisp (g/k).
QPR: Salaman, Harrack, Shann, Tuck, Powell, Hawkins, Petrie, Sackey, Lloyd, Murphy, Anthony. Unused subs: Ogwuazor, Jeche, Yahyaoui, Manufor, Cant (g/k).
Booked: Anthony.
Referee: Dean Skipper.
Pictures courtesy of Ian Randall Photography
Click here to buy tickets for the Cherries' Professional Development League meeting with Ipswich Town at Vitality Stadium on Tuesday 5th December (7pm kick-off).
Development squad Supported by
