AFC Bournemouth
Goals from Jonny Day, Charlie Stevens and Kash Kasukumya proved in vain for AFC Bournemouth’s under-18s as they fell to a 5-3 defeat at Charlton Athletic.
The Cherries trailed 3-0 at the interval at the Sparrows Lane training centre, before conceding another shortly atter the break.
But James Lowy’s side rallied with the wind at the backs in the second half to put pressure on the Addicks.
Manager Lowy told afcb.co.uk: “Conditions played a massive part in it. I think you could see that in both halves.
“When they had the wind in the first half they gained momentum from it and in the second half we did. We had a lot more control in the second half, created a lot of chances.
“But I think a couple of goals we conceded – we talked before about not being ruthless in terms of defending our own box. There were a couple of goals that we could have easily avoided, which was disappointing from our end.”
Hosts Charlton opened the scoring in the Professional Development League contest after just nine minutes. Midfielder Jacob Safa found space to send a pin-point effort into the bottom corner from the edge of the box.
They kept the pressure on and found a second when Brook Myers got free to find the target from close range.
Safa then added his second and the Addicks’ third before the Cherries looked to spark a response.
Ryan Carroll’s header found the run of striker Day, who had got away from his marker. His strike at goal flew just over the bar.
Day had another opportunity just before half-time. Alfie Merritt’s cross from the left was gathered by the frontman, whose deflected effort fell just wide of the near post.
Charlton then struck a fourth when Bradley Tagoe’s jinking run and cross allowed Micah Mbick to convert from close range.
But Lowy’s side did not give in. Day went down under a hefty sliding challenge in the box from Ethan Cann, before picking himself up to dispatch the resulting spot-kick.
Stevens then sent a curling effort just inside the far post after meeting a cross from Tommy Whitehead.
Brook Myers slotted home back post to make it 5-2 to the hosts, before Kasukumya tapped in Day’s centre at the other end to cap off the scoring.
Lowy added: “It’s definitely one we reiterated to the players after the game in that they almost gave themselves too much to do in the second half.
“However, they did show a response in the second half which was pleasing.
“It probably just comes back down to key moments in the games, where we just didn’t have the execution to find the right pass or maybe a shot on goal that could have been another chance.”
AFC Bournemouth: Allan, Holman, Merritt, Ogunleye, William, Williams (Davies, 81), Whitehead, Carroll (Sills, 60), Day, Salmon (Kasukumya, 76), Stevens.
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