AFC Bournemouth
Under-18s boss James Lowy admitted his team “weren’t ruthless enough in both boxes” as AFC Bournemouth fell to a 5-2 home defeat to Crewe Alexandra.
Jonny Day continued his fine run of scoring form for the Cherries with a goal either side of the interval.
But they were left to ponder their 12th defeat in the Professional Development League as the Alex sealed the spoils.
Lowy told afcb.co.uk: “I think we just weren’t ruthless enough in both boxes.
“There were definitely chances for us in the game – at 2-1, there were even chances then for us to get ahead before half-time.
“But unfortunately, we didn’t show that cutting edge in the final third and just weren’t enough ruthless enough to defend our own goal in the second half.
“We had good moments in possession of the ball and created some good chances for ourselves. We just lacked that little bit of quality to put the ball in the back of the net.”
After Rhys Allport opened the scoring for Crewe on 18 minutes, Cherries restored parity thanks to a moment of quality from skipper Ollie Eagle.
The defender surged forward from centre-back and delivered a pin-point cross for Day to head home.
The visitors restored their lead, however. After goalkeeper Mack Allan was judged to have brought down an attacker in the box, Lewis Nolan stepped up to convert the resulting penalty.
Despite chances either side of the interval for forward Ashley Clarke, Crewe found a third on 54 minutes. Callum Hardy curled the ball into the net past Allan from the edge of the box.
Jordan Hodkin then netted another penalty awarded to Crewe before Day struck his second, slamming the ball into the net after a cross from the right.
Hodkin headed in the visitors’ fifth 10 minutes from time.
“I think something we have said to the lads again. It’s a mentality, a desire and a willingness to do the horrible side of the game first,” said Lowy.
“That is showing bravery to defend the goal and I think that is something we are trying to challenge the lads with at the moment. You have to show that mentality first before the nice, tactical bits become a part of it.”
AFC Bournemouth: Allan, Holman, Trialist (Whiterhead, 76), Ogunleye, Trialist (Merritt, 56), Eagle, Trialist, Gregory, Kasukumya (Sills, 76), Clarke (Stevens, 66), Day.
Unused sub: Seeley (g/k).
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