Classy U21s cruise past Bristol Rovers

Goals from Christian Saydee and Keelan O’Connell either side of the break were enough to seal the win, while Will Dennis made some impressive saves in goal.

The friendly provided opportunities for the likes of Gavin Kilkenny, Jaidon Anthony and Jordan Zemura, who have all featured for the first team this season, to gain some valuable minutes, while under-18 players Marcus Daws, Jake Adams and Ferdinand Okoh all came on in the second half.

The game got off to a rapid start, with the Cherries scoring from their first opportunity, a lovely ball from Kilkenny finding Genesini, who set up Saydee for a perfect finish.

It was almost two immediately after, O’Connell causing problems as he was played through one-on-one but, after a good save from the Rovers ‘keeper, Zemura couldn’t quite divert the rebound.

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AFC Bournemouth 2-0 Bristol Rovers

Zemura was involved again as Shaun Cooper’s side looked to make the most of their possession, the left-back playing a delightful one-two with Corey Jordan, who saw his shot stopped on the line.

Kilkenny then forced two good openings for himself, with the hosts continuing to dominate. The youngster, who was back from international duty with Ireland U21s, first saw his effort from 20 yards deflected into the ‘keeper’s hands, before he hit the post from a tight angle on the left.

Over on the other side, right-back Genesini thought he had caught the Rovers shot-stopper off his line, having won it back on the half-way line, but an ambitious chip didn’t cause any trouble.

Just before the break, Zemura went on another of his menacing runs, this time taking the shot on, but his effort from just inside the area creeped wide without a touch.

After an assertive 45 minutes, the Cherries looked to come out firing and almost had another immediate breakthrough, Kilkenny’s low drive firing against the advertising board to the right of the goal, inches wide from the bottom corner.

Up the other end of the pitch, Dennis had to be alert and was called into action within the opening ten minutes of the half, but the visiting striker’s shot from 25 yards was comfortably held.

Moments later and Genesini almost had his second assist of the game, the defender fizzing in a low ball to the feet of O’Connell, but the winger couldn’t get the touch it needed to divert goalwards.

However, a second soon came and it was O’Connell who bagged for his fourth goal in as many matches. A lovely lay-off from Saydee made for a neat finish from the winger, whose effort from close range left the ‘keeper with little chance.

There was still time for Zemura and Kilkenny to try and get their names on the scoresheet, the left-back first running out of space on the by-line before he could pull the trigger, while the latter sending a shot from range over the bar.

The win sets up Cooper’s side nicely, with fixtures against Oxford and Portsmouth to come before the Central League Cup final at the end of April. 

The AFC Bournemouth under-21s are proudly sponsored by iPro.