CHERRIES development squad regained top spot of the Professional Development League after coming out on 3-2 winners in a pulsating clash with Cardiff City.

Ben Winterburn opened and closed the scoring, with his strikes at either end of the game sandwiching efforts from Cardiff City’s Tanatswa Nyakhuwa and James Crole, as well as Daniel Adu-Adjei’s penalty.

Early on, a mistake at the back allowed Cardiff to press and win the ball back inside Cherries’ box, the resultant effort fired into the side netting.

Cherries would open scores on 17 minutes through defender Winterburn.

Adu-Adjei saw his initial effort from a corner saved on the line, only for the onrushing Winterburn to crash home the rebound.

Finn Tonks reading of the game allowed the full back to win the ball on the edge of the area before attempting to surge into the box.

He was brought down before he could advance, with the resultant free kick seeing Ben Greenwood denied by a top-hand save.

But shortly after Tonks would be involved in a foul at the other end of the pitch, hauling down Colwill inside the box.

A penalty was awarded, with Colwill stepping up to take the spot-kick himself.

The midfielder sent his effort to the bottom left corner of the goal, only to find an outstretched Cam Plain, who turned the ball over the bar.

Cardiff would go close again in the closing stages of the half.

Cian Ashford struck the post with a powerful effort from close range, before he set up a second chance moments later, pirouetting on the ball before jinking through the Cherries’ half with the ball.

Plain was well matched to deny Crole, before a sliding intervention was required from Cherries captain Ben Greenwood to keep Cardiff out before the break.

However, the Bluebirds would find their equaliser in the second half.

On the hour mark Luey Giles’ floated cross from the left wing found the head of substitute Tanatswa Nyakhuwa, who cushioned past Plain to restore parity.

Undeterred, Cherries looked to regain their lead.

Dominic Sadi saw an effort from range pushed away for a corner by Jake Dennis in the Cardiff goal.

A little while later, another corner would lead to Cherries’ second.

Greenwood swung a ball into the box, only for it bounce awkwardly in front of Xavier Benjamin.

The ball proceeded to bobble unkindly ahead of the Cardiff City captain, bouncing up to strike his arm.

After a brief pause, the match official pointed to the penalty spot, to allow Adu-Adjei the chance to score his 15th goal of the campaign.

Cardiff would have felt like they deserved the rub of the green after the contentious call, and shortly after they found it.

With eight minutes remaining, Crole’s effort from range took a wicked bounce off a divot on the pitch, sending the ball over the already outstretched Plain.

Scores level again, Cherries had to search for yet another goal.

It would come just three minutes later, when Winterburn arrived on the edge of the area to cleanly stroke past Dennis.

There was further drama in the five added minutes, with the rare sight of an indirect free-kick.

Plain was adjudged to have held the ball for too long whilst taking his time distributing out from back, conceding an indirect free-kick inside the area.

Handbags ensued when Plain did not promptly give the ball over to Cardiff, Crole and substitute Ryan Kavanagh robustly wrestling the ball off the Cherries goalkeeper.

However, there would not be a third for Cardiff, with the resultant set-piece laid off to be fired into the wall.

Cherries: Plain, Tonks, Winterburn, Greenwood, Boutin, Kilkenny (Brown, 76), Moriah-Welsh, Sadi, Dacosta Gonzalez (Johnson, 82), Adu-Adjei, Tydeman (Landa, 76).

Unused subs: Rees-Dottin, Allan (g/k).

Booked: Plain.