Peterborough United Under 18s were beaten by the young Cherries as they mounted a second half comeback on Saturday afternoon.
The game started evenly, with both sides enjoying waves of possession, but the hosts seemed to lack the cutting edge when it mattered.
SHOFOWOKE took full advantage to sway the match in favour of our youngsters, freeing up some space before sliding home at the back post in trademark fashion.
Bournemouth looked to rally back instantly when the Cherries’ midfielder won an ariel duel 30-yards out, before advancing forward and taking aim for the far corner – this time, the woodwork came to our aid.
Rylie Fitzpatrick injected fresh momentum down by the touchline, standing up a ball to our goal scorer, who set Max Beech free – yet the finishing touch remained elusive.
The momentum was quickly halted in the second period when our youngsters came under siege almost instantly. A series of opportunities cropped up for the home side, with Ben Westcott doing excellently to keep his clean sheet intact.
The host’s pressure soon told, though, spinning the game on its head with two quick-fire goals; the first on the hour mark, before finding the net three minutes later.
Jimmy Unwin rang in the changes, looking to find a route back into the game, with our youngsters camping further up the field. Shofowoke came closest when his effort was parried out to Benjamin McWilliams-Marcano, who miscued the follow-up.
Instead, the Cherries looked to put the game out of sight down the other end, winning a spot-kick which wrongfooted Westcott to greater the task at hand for Unwin’s side.
The hosts weathered any late pressure to claim all three points down by the south coast.
Posh: Westcott, Claxton, Joseph, Holley, Aikins (sub Arber 60min), Gilbert, Fitzpatrick, Christoudias (sub Norville 70min), Shofowoke, Beech, McWilliams-Marcano. Unused sub: Trialist A.
Half-time: AFC Bournemouth Under 18s 0-1 Posh Under 18s
Full-time: AFC Bournemouth Under 18s 3-1 Posh Under 18s