CHERRIES’ development squad kept alive their hopes of a play-off finish in their debut Professional Development League season with a comfortable 5-0 victory over Fleetwood Town.

Fresh off the back of his loan move at League One Leyton Orient, Daniel Adu-Adjei produced goals in either half to send Cherries on their way at Vitality Stadium.

Kian Tydeman’s double shortly after stretched Cherries’ lead further, leaving them within a top-two finish required to compete in the play-offs with a game remaining.

Adu-Adjei completed his hat-trick with a minute remaining, rounding off the rout.

In the first period Adu-Adjei had stroked past Lewis Ridd but was quickly denied by the offside flag, Fleetwood’s trap paying off.

It would come as no surprise that Adu-Adjei would find the breakthrough for Cherries. With his back to goal, the striker outmuscled his marker before blasting past in the Fleetwood goal.

Shortly after Michael Dacosta Gonzalez flashed a snapshot beyond the far post as Cherries looked to reflect their control of proceedings on the scoreline.

Cherries would have to wait until the second half for their second, but it came just two minutes after the restart.

After Dacosta Gonzalez was felled in the Fleetwood half Cherries quickly moved the ball into the box, Ben Greenwood finding Lewis Brown, who in turn supplied Adu-Adjei to tuck home.

Moments later another decent chance presented itself for the hosts. Captain Dominic Sadi was released into the box at a tight angle, having to open up his body and aim across goal.

His effort flew past Ridd but also the far post, the angle proving too much to overcome.

But Cherries would find a third sooner rather than later.

Balraj Landa did well to feed the ball through to Tydeman, with the attacking midfielder dinking the ball over the onrushing Ridd.

The goalie keeper could only scarper back to his line in time to see the lofted ball enter the goal.

It would be two in three minutes for Tydeman, Cherries going four goals up before the hour mark.

Adu-Adjei slipped in the midfielder, who once again kept cool to skip past the goalie and slide the ball into the empty net.

There was almost another assist for Adu-Adjei, the forward playing in Sadi who was denied at close range by Ridd.

With a minute remaining, Adu-Adjei completed his hat-trick.

Fastening on a ball over the top down the right flank, the striker rounded the goalkeeper before slotting home at a tight angle to take home the match ball.

Cherries rise up to fourth in the southern section of the Professional Development League, with their final game of the season against Crewe Alexandra set to be staged in front of fans at Vitality Stadium on Tuesday, May 14.

Cherries: McKenna; Tonks, Brown, Greenwood, Osborne (Okoh, 74); Dacosta Gonzalez (Clarke, 74), Williams, Sadi (Rees-Dottin, 66), Tydeman (Stuttle, 74), Landa; Adu-Adjei.

Unused sub: Allan (g/k).

Booked: Williams.