CHERRIES loanee Jack Wadham is embracing the challenge of senior football during his loan spell at Dorchester Town.

Wadham, 19, made his Magpies debut in Saturday’s 2-1 win over Swindon Supermarine after joining from Cherries.

Central midfielder Wadham is held in high regard by Cherries, who made him under-18s captain before promoting the ex-Weymouth Cougars talent into the under-23s.

Wadham relished his debut and revealed the excitement of testing himself as Dorchester look to escape the Southern League Premier South drop.

He told the Dorset Echo: “I enjoyed it, I thought I grew into the game. It’s a different test from playing Bournemouth 23s football.

“I’m buzzing, that’s what it’s all about – the three points. Especially in the situation we’re in, we need every point we can get.

“I’m looking forward to the challenge and I was just buzzing to get the chance to come on loan because at the 23s there’s not as many games now at this part of the season.

“I’m happy to get as many under my belt as possible and hopefully get us to where we need to be.

“I’ll just take every game as it comes and hopefully we’ll finish as high as possible.”

First-team coach Brian Churchill was also taken with Wadham’s display against Supermarine, where the teenage maestro protected the back four in a central defensive midfield role.

He played for 80 minutes before boss Glenn Howes replaced him with Charlie Gunson in response to Supermarine introducing George Dowling to the action.

“You don’t stay at a club like Bournemouth for 10 years if you haven’t got some sort of quality,” he told Echosport.

“It’s just a learning experience for Jack in men’s football rather than academy football, playing against players of a similar age.

“He’ll get better and better for us for the rest of the season. He was playing pivot for us alongside Billy (Lowes).

“He’s done that all his career, so it’s nothing unusual position-wise for him. It’s just speed of the game and the physicality of this league.

“Half the reason we brought Charlie on at the end was to deal with that powerful lad (Dowling) that came on for Swindon.

“Jack will grow and grow and in the nine games we’ve got left I’m sure he’ll be an important part of keeping us in this league.”