Under-18s lead coach Dan Carroll expressed the importance of learning from victories and defeats as a five-game winning run came to an end against AFC Wimbledon.
An Obed Yaboah brace and sensational Conor Harris strike saw the young AFC Bournemouth side go down 3-1 to the Dons at Canford on Saturday.
The defeat followed an impressive run which overlapped both the end of the EFL Youth Alliance and beginning of the Merit League One campaigns.
“I think you learn from every game,” Carroll told afcb.co.uk reflecting on the defeat.
“If you win a game, you should be looking at why we won it and what went well, what can we do even better to win by more.
“Then, when you lose, you have to learn from it because clearly you haven’t scored as many goals as they have.
“We have to think about what we can do better at both ends of the pitch.”
Despite coming out on the wrong end of the scoreline, Carroll was both clear on the learning points for his side and felt there were still positives to take.
He explained: “I think our biggest point to learn from is showing the character when things are tough, and we had a tough period when the momentum was with them.
“Seeing those periods out, backing themselves to be able to be positive on the ball, trying to play our way out and finding solutions are all key.
“It was very pleasing that we did that much more effectively in the second half.”
Wimbledon’s visit was the side’s second fixture of their Merit League One campaign so far.
With the under-18s’ second-year scholars having progressed to the development squad now, the Cherries side has a young look to it as they attack the 11-team division.
On his youthful team, Carroll said: “We finished up with one under-15 on the pitch, who I thought made a good impact when he came on.
“Also, Malachi Ogunleye worked really hard in midfield today, we had Jay Williams at the back and then Josh Salmon on at the end in midfield as well.
“So, almost half the team was very young and that bodes well for the future. It’s all good experience for them as they understand what under-18s football is all about.”
