Goals from Daniel Adu-Adjei and Michael Dacosta Gonzalez earned AFC Bournemouth a 2-2 draw with Plymouth Argyle, a result which saw Alan Connell’s team crowned champions of the EFL Youth Alliance.
The Cherries were forced to come from behind and withstood some late pressure at Canford Park Arena to pip the Pilgrims to the South West divisional title on goal difference.
Oscar Massey opened the scoring for the visitors midway through the first half before well-taken goals from Adu-Adjei and Dacosta Gonzalez saw the Cherries take a somewhat fortunate lead into the break.
William Jenkins-Davies struck with 19 minutes remaining to set up a tense finale with the Cherries indebted to a stunning save from goalkeeper Ollie Camis in the dying seconds.
Camis was restored to the Cherries starting line-up after attending a five-day training camp with Wales under-17s during the week.
He was the only change made by boss Connell following the 2-0 win over Portsmouth on Tuesday, although there was a welcome return for Archie Harris on the bench.
Jenkins-Davies fired past the upright and over the crossbar as the Pilgrims created two early chances.
He then turned provider for Jamal Salawu to draw a fine save from Camis, the goalkeeper turning the Plymouth striker’s fierce drive around the post.
It was no surprise when the visitors drew first blood, Freddie Issaka’s driving run and cross setting up Massey who finished low past Camis in the 21st minute.
Plymouth goalkeeper Lewis Moyle was called into action to save Marcus Daws’s free-kick through a crowd of players as the Cherries fashioned their first chance of note in the 30th minute.
However, after Dacosta Gonzalez’s delicate pass had found Adu-Adjei, the striker finished emphatically past Moyle and into the bottom corner to make it 1-1 in the 33rdminute.
The Cherries edged ahead on the stroke of half-time after Daws had threaded a pass into the feet of Adu-Adjei who went to ground after being tripped.
But he quickly regained his footing and squared to Dacosta Gonzalez who rifled a left-footed shot into back of net despite Moyle getting a hand to it.
Camis made a couple of routine saves from Issaka early in the second half before Jenkins-Davies seized on the loose ball to level after Angel Waruih’s wind-assisted cross had not been cleared.
Noa Boutin saw his centre pushed on to the crossbar by Moyle before Camis pulled off a top-drawer save at his near post to keep out Massey’s glancing header in stoppage time.
AFC Bournemouth: Camis, Tonks, Boutin, Okoh, Palmer, Bevan, Johnson (Harris, 69), Brown, Adu-Adjei, Dacosta Gonzalez, Daws (Sadi, 80). Unused subs: Morgan, Williams, Allan (g/k).
