CHERRIES development squad managed to stretch their unbeaten streak to 12 games by coming from behind to defeat Watford.

At New Cuthbury, Alan Connell’s young Cherries had trailed at the break to Watford after Laken Torres’ early opener.

But Watford, managed by legendary Cherries defender Charlie Daniels, could not hold on, as Finn Tonks and Daniel Adu-Adjei struck late on to turn the game on its head.

The opening chances fell to the away side, with Torres putting Hornets into the lead on nine minutes.

His abrupt turn allowed him to find enough space to blast past Cam Plain in the Cherries goal and put Watford into the lead.

Plain was tested again shortly afterwards, the keeper getting down quickly to prevent Jake Watkiss’s long range effort from finding the back of the net.

Michael Dacosta Gonzalez saw a long-range strike of his own matched by Watford keeper Jonathan Macaulay, a free-kick from some distance comfortably saved.

Watford went close to doubling their lead when midfielder Aidan Coyne struck the crossbar, only for the ball to bounce away from danger.

Cherries went into the second half looking for a response.

Macaulay kept his clean sheet intact with a smart double save, denying both Dom Sadi and Balraj Landa in quick succession around the hour mark.

The equaliser would arrive on 77 minutes, with multiple Cherries involved. Sadi worked hard to win possession back, quickly threading the ball to Adu-Adjei.

Then the ball was moved to Kian Tydeman, who teed up Tonks to smash home and restore parity.

There was still plenty of time for Cherries to find a winner, eventually doing so with eight minutes to spare.

Some neat work between Sadi and Tydeman fashioned an opportunity for Adu-Adjei, who cooly slotted home his eight in six games.

The dev squad are in action on Tuesday night, when they host Ipswich Town in the Premier League Cup at Vitality Stadium (7pm).

Cherries: Plain, Tonks, Boutin, Wadham, Okoh (Winterburn, 65), Greenwood, Moriah-Welsh, Sadi (Pollock, 87), Adu-Adjei, Dacosta Gonzalez, Landa (Tydeman, 69).

Unused subs: Brown, Seeley (g/k).