AFC Bournemouth
Skipper Max Kinsey believes the AFC Bournemouth development squad have “risen to the challenge” following their elevation to category two academy status.
The Cherries were successfully reassigned ahead of the start of this season and now have a regular games programme in the Professional Development League.
Victories in their first two fixtures against Coventry and Peterborough were followed by a three-game winless run which saw them pick up one point from a draw with Sheffield Wednesday.
Since then, Alan Connell’s team have gone seven matches unbeaten in all competitions, including four successive wins in the Professional Development League.
They also beat Charlton and drew at Wolves in the Premier League Cup as well as reaching the third round of the Hampshire Senior Cup after seeing off Moneyfields.
The Cherries will be hoping to extend their impressive recent sequence of results and performances when they host Swansea City in the Professional Development League on Tuesday.
Currently second, a point behind leaders QPR and with a game in hand, Connell’s team face the sixth-placed Swans at Wimborne Town’s New Cuthbury headquarters (1pm kick-off).
Kinsey, who was on target in their 4-0 win against Bristol City a fortnight ago, was part of a defence which kept six consecutive clean sheets during their unbeaten run.
The 18-year-old told afcb.co.uk: “I know it goes without saying, but the standard is much better in category two than it was in category three.
“The players are better, the facilities are better and the league is much stronger. A lot of us played for the under-18s last season and the league we’re in now is far superior.
“We’ve got a really strong group and we’ve risen to the challenge. The standards we set ourselves are high, both on the pitch and in training every day.
“Going seven games unbeaten and keeping six clean sheets on the trot is a great achievement, especially when you consider we have effectively gone up a level.
“We’re second in the league, unbeaten in the Premier League Cup and in the third round of the Hampshire Senior Cup. We need to keep it going, keep working hard and keep our levels high every day.”
Swansea have won four and drawn one of their first eight league games and currently top their Premier League Cup group having beaten Brighton and Hull in their first two games.
Entry to New Cuthbury is free and supporters are welcome to attend.
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