TIME wasting has become a more regular sight in football than the traditional half-time Bovril.

While no fan can honestly admit their team is immune from it, some players push the delays to the very limit.

AFC Bournemouth fans certainly felt Burnley goalkeeper Nick Pope took his fair share of time as the game went on at Vitality Stadium on Wednesday night.

However, the visiting goalkeeper soon found one of the Cherries ball boys had taken matters into his own hands.

Highcliffe school pupil Ben Wayne grabbed social media attention after he ‘encouraged’ the 25-year-old keeper to speed up his act.

Such was the entertainment Ben provided, some fans suggested he was man of the match in Cherries’ 2-1 defeat.

13-year-old Ben said he has seen all the teams time-wasting, but had to do something to try and stop Burnley from running down the clock.

“The goalkeeper was taking so long every time they had a goal kick I felt that if I ran to get the ball and put it straight in his hands then he would have to be a bit quicker,” Ben said.

“Some other goalkeepers do it, but this was really obvious. As Bournemouth were losing I wanted to speed him up.”

With Cherries far from their best on the pitch, Ben, who plays as a goalkeeper for Highcliffe Hawks, gained one of the loudest cheers of the night - although he said Pope was not impressed.

“The keeper didn’t say anything to me, but he looked at me a bit funny and then look towards the referee as if he was complaining about it,” Ben added.

In the past, the ball boy duties were given to players in AFC Bournemouth’s academy, but from the start of this season the club has given a group of 24 Junior Cherries members the opportunity to play their part in the matchday experience.

Away from his role as a ball boy, Ben has been spotted on television with his selection of AFC Bournemouth related banners which he makes with his dad Gary.

Ahead of tomorrow’s visit of Southampton, the father and son duo have put together a special sign, which reads: “AFC Bournemouth. Pride of the south coast.”

Ben will be in his regular spot behind the goal and said he will make sure Fraser Forster is keeping an eye on the time when he has to defend the South End goal.

“The reason I like being behind the goal is that I can also be there for when the keepers are doing the warm up to pick up some advice,” Ben added.