Goals either side of half-time from Sheffield United duo Ryan Oné and Fernando Macedo dented AFC Bournemouth’s hopes of reaching the Professional Development League play-offs.
The Blades, favourites to win Group North, triumphed 2-0 over the Cherries, who are currently third in Group South with three regulation league games remaining.
With the top two in each division qualifying for the end-of-season play-off semi-finals, Alan Connell’s team are a point behind second-placed QPR and nine adrift of leaders Millwall.
Striker Oné opened the scoring in the seventh minute when he fastened on to a slide-rule pass from skipper Owen Hampson before applying a neat finish past Cherries goalkeeper Cal McKenna.
Ash Clarke was denied an equaliser when his goalbound effort deflected wide off a defender before Blades goalkeeper Luke Faxon pulled off a smart save to keep out Michael Dacosta Gonzalez’s effort.
The visitors doubled their lead through Macedo’s assured finish five minutes from time before Faxon made another excellent save to thwart Kian Tydeman.
Click through the arrows above to see a gallery of pictures from the game.
