CHERRIES are today set to announce the signing of Jordan Green – who has swapped stacking shelves in a supermarket in pursuit of a career in the professional ranks.

Green has been handed a one-year deal – with an option for a further 12 months – after impressing under-21 coach Stephen Purches and the club’s coaching staff during a trial spell.

The diminutive frontman, who was once on the books at Fulham but released for being too small, had been working for Waitrose while playing part-time for Banbury United in the Southern League.

Green caught the eye during pre-season friendlies against Arsenal and when netting a stylish brace against Hamworthy Recreation and will join Purches’s under-21 squad.

The 20-year-old had a hand in Cherries’ goal against Salisbury last night when his closing down of defender Steve Walker led to Harry Cornick racing clear and slotting home midway through the first half of a 2-1 defeat.

Cornick’s 24th-minute effort against the re-formed Whites, who will this season compete in Wessex Premier, came following a sustained spell of Cherries pressure which had seen Matt Butcher and Mason Walsh both try their luck from distance.

And after Cornick had broken the deadlock, Sam Matthews went close to doubling Cherries’ lead before Salisbury skipper Kane O’Keefe shanked a presentable chance over the crossbar.

Matthews’ free-kick, which had looked destined for the top corner, was saved by Gareth Barfoot before the Salisbury goalkeeper beat away Cornick’s ferocious strike after the frontman had created space.

Stephane Zubar sliced Daniel Demkiv’s driven centre over his own crossbar at the start of the second half before Cornick cleared an Ashley Jarvis header off the line.

As Cherries went in search of a second, Cornick’s deflected drive flashed past the post and a last-ditch block from Whites defender Calum Brockway denied Green a goal his efforts had deserved.

Cornick continued to probe and only a fine diving save from Barfoot denied him a second after he had let fly from the edge of the box but Salisbury levelled midway through the second half through Patrick Nolan, a goal which gave the hosts momentum to kick on.

Nolan stooped to nod home from close range after Eddie Perrett had headed a Calum Casson free-kick back across the face of the goalmouth.

Substitute Joe Quigley almost scored with his first touch, even if he knew little about it. The big striker turned his back on a clearance from Monty George, with the ball trickling past the post after it had struck Quigley.

Goalkeeper George then hared off his line to smother at the feet of Quigley before Salisbury took the lead through Mark Ford with 10 minutes remaining following a slip by Elliott Ward.

Cherries: Allsop, Muleba, Costa, Butcher (A Trialist, 62), Ward, Zubar, Matthews (Quigley, 75), Wakefield, Cornick (Pope, 85), Green, Walsh (Whitfield, 62).

Referee: Chris Powell.

Attendance: 1,727.