CHERRIES development squad’s debut season as a Category Two academy ended with a 6-0 dismantling of Crewe Alexandra in front of a healthy Vitality Stadium crowd.
Requiring a win by 15 goals to sneak into the Professional Development League play-offs, Cherries found six in the first half through a Kian Tydeman double, Michael Dacosta Gonzalez’s brace, Max Kinsey’s header, and Daniel Adu-Adjei’s strike.
However, despite a siege on the Crewe goal for much of the final 45 minutes, Cherries were unable to add to their tally.
The goals started within 10 minutes of kick-off.
Greenwood’s cross found Dacosta Gonzalez at the back post in space, the winger unable to completely master the bouncing ball to get a shot off.
Instead, he smartly touched it down for Tydeman, who picked his spot and curled past the powerless Mikolaj Lenarcik to open scores.
Cherries did not have to wait long for a second.
Finn Tonks did well to win the ball back, feeding Tydeman. The midfielder’s backheel found Dacosta Gonzalez, but the winger had work to do to properly win possession under challenge.
After getting control of the ball, the Spaniard quickly took aim, finding the back of the net and doubling his side’s lead.
Crewe were not passive.
After his defence dealt with the initial probe into the box, Cherries keeper Cal McKenna had to be alert to stop Lucas Sant’s dipping volley from the edge of the area.
But it was not too long before Cherries put their guests back under pressure.
Crewe managed to deal with four corners in succession, but the fifth proved too much as Lewis Brown found captain Kinsey at the back to head home Cherries’ third of the night.
Another corner five minutes before the break caused further chaos. Lenarcik improperly punched the ball, sending it towards Tydeman on the goal line.
The midfielder saw his header blocked by Joe Collins, who cleared with the back of his own head.
But Crewe’s efforts were in vain, as Cherries regained possession from the clearance and found a fourth goal.
Handed the ball on the edge of the area, Dacosta Gonzalez thumped home into the top left for his second and Cherries’ fourth.
Cherries were dominant at corners, and frequently found themselves with plenty of opportunities to prove so.
Brown’s delivery to the near post found Adu-Adjei, who cleverly helped the ball past Lenarcik with a flick to make it five in first-half stoppage time.
Before the whistle could go, it was six. Tydeman battled to win the ball back, allowing Cherries to surge into the box.
Greenwood found Adu-Adjei, who laid the ball off to Tydeman to finish for his second of the evening.
Unfortunately for Cherries, the goal glut did not immediately restart in the second period despite heavy pressure on the Crewe goal.
Dominic Sadi’s lovely spin under pressure freed Adu-Adjei inside the area; the striker crashing the ball onto the crossbar shortly after the hour mark.
Sadi would hit the bar himself on 72 minutes, his strike from the edge of the area clipping the woodwork as it went over.
Cherries: McKenna; Tonks, Kinsey, Greenwood, Harris (Trialist, 73); Williams, Sadi (Wadham, 73), Brown (Stuttle, 73); Dacosta Gonzalez, Tydeman (Landa, 63), Adu-Adjei.
Unused sub: Allan (g/k).
Booked: Dacosta Gonzalez.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here