CHERRIES under-21s interim boss Mark Molesley says the club's academy "lives and breathes" on "great moments" like Baily Cargill's Premier League debut against Manchester United.

Academy graduate Cargill replaced Tyrone Mings late in the second half of Cherries' draw at Old Trafford on Saturday.

And Molesley, whose side face Hartley Wintney in a Hampshire Senior Cup semi-final clash tonight (7.30pm), was delighted former under-21 chief and now first-team coach Stephen Purches had been on hand to witness Cargill's top-flight bow.

Molesley told the Daily Echo: "It was a fantastic achievement for Baily and a great moment for the club.

"I thought it was very fitting that Stephen Purches was there to see one of his boys grace the turf at Old Trafford.

"It is a fantastic story. The whole academy lives and breathes on stories like that. It provides a big injection of life into the system that everyone works so hard on.

"The way Baily went on and stood up for himself was a true testament to the character he is.

"He’s worked so hard to get his chance. To come on in those circumstances and perform the way he did was nothing short of remarkable."

Molesley will be targeting a personal double on his side's visit to Hartley Wintney, runaway leaders in the Combined Counties League Premier Division.

The former Cherries midfielder still pulls on his boots for Southern League Weymouth, who last week beat Wimborne to progress into the Dorset Senior Cup final.

The 35-year-old, however, is reluctant to look too far ahead, given his team's semi-final opponents have scored 118 goals in their 35 league games this season, losing only twice.

"It will be a new experience for our boys," said Molesley. "A semi-final brings added pressure.

"We’ll be going into a different environment and playing on a difficult pitch, against a team that is full of confidence and smashing everyone they meet.

"I haven’t thought about the two finals. I’m just making sure we’re as well prepared as possible for the game, then after the match I can, hopefully, start thinking about another final."

Molesley goes into the contest buoyed by the way his young players tackled an experienced Southend side last week, when Romanian winger Mihai 'Alex' Dobre scored twice in a 3-3 draw.

He is now challenging Dobre and the rest of his troops to reproduce that form across the remainder of the campaign.

"It is up to the players to step up to the plate and reach the standard the club sets them," added Molesley.

"We have been pleased with them and the tough thing now is doing it consistently.

"Alex has made massive strides since he joined us (in August). He’s had to learn the language and the way we like to do things.

"He is a unique talent and we have to try to guide him in the right way. We know how good he can be and his challenge is to let us see that on a consistent basis."