AFCB

Development Squad

Development squad draw with strong Hatters side

AFC Bournemouth's development squad played out a 1-1 draw with Luton at Hitchin Town this afternoon. 

Jack Wadham got the only goal for the Cherries, who fought back after Admiral Muskwe had put the Hatters ahead. 

The hosts fielded a number of first team players in Hertfordshire, with Allan Campbell, Gabe Osho, Carlos Mendes Gomes, James Shea and scorer Muskwe, who was making a come back from injury, all featuring. 

Following the game, development squad manager Shaun Cooper shared his thoughts with afcb.co.uk. 

"I thought for the first half-an-hour, we were excellent," he began.

"The lads controlled the game and passed the ball well without really creating a great deal in the final third. Overall, it was a really good start to the match.

"They then scored from a free-kick routine. They just scooped it over the wall and then ran in and scored, so we're disappointed with the way that went in.

"Towards the end of the first-half, Luton were starting to get a little bit of control. 

"In the second-half we came out and it was a little bit of a scrappy half, but we kept going and eventually got the reward with our goal.

"We worked the ball around the box and then Ben Greenwood managed to slip in. He managed to get a couple of ricochet and it landed with Jack Wadham, who had made a late run. He tapped it in from there. 

"We were then looking for the win from that point on, but I think a draw was probably the right result." 

Cooper went on to speak about the strength of the opposition and admitted that there were plenty of pleasing aspects as his side rose to the challenge. 

"The pleasing thing was that a lot of Luton's senior players who they fielded today were on the pitch during periods where we dominated the ball.

"I do think that when they came off and they brought on a few substitutions with fresh legs, the lads had a bit of a physical hangover from the Arsenal game last week.

"We travelled up here today as well, so Luton's freshness did cause us a bit of a problem. Having said that, the lads fought through it and were deserving of a draw. 

"The boys always want to win, so I don't think they see any game as a friendly.

"Today was a bit of a come-down having had over 2,000 watching us at Vitality Stadium last week. It was also a non-league pitch, which was bobbly and boggy.

"I thought we coped with that well, but I think the emotion and physical challenge of last week probably caught up with us a bit.

"There were some good lessons in there, but hopefully we've got a few friendlies booked in now. We'll face a different level and a different style of opposition each week, so we hope to get five or six on the spin."