AFC Bournemouth moved three points clear at the top of the Professional Development League following an eventful 3-2 victory over Cardiff City at New Cuthbury on Friday.
The Cherries, playing their game in hand on previous leaders QPR, triumphed thanks to Ben Winterburn’s double and a Dan Adu-Adjei penalty.
Alan Connell’s team recorded an eighth win in their past ten league games and followed up their midweek victory at Bristol City where Adu-Adjei had netted the only goal.
Winterburn started the ball rolling when he nodded home from close range after Adu-Adjei’s initial header from a Kian Tydeman corner had been blocked on the line in the 17th minute.
The Cherries were indebted to Cam Plain for preserving their lead, the goalkeeper making a superb save to keep out Joel Colwill’s well-struck penalty in the 36th minute.
Cardiff drew level through substitute Tanatswa Nyakuhwa in the 61st minute, only for Adu-Adjei to restore the Cherries’ advantage when he calmly converted from the spot 17 minutes from time.
Although the visitors again equalised through James Crole nine minutes from time, Winterburn’s arrow-like 20-yarder settled the issue in favour of the hosts in the 85th minute.
Connell’s team are next in action when they visit Folland Sports in the quarter-finals of the Servio Hampshire Men’s Senior Cup on Tuesday (7.45pm kick-off).
Click through the arrows above to see a gallery of pictures from an entertaining game.
