STRIKER Alex Moth netted twice – including a dramatic late winner – as Cherries recorded a 3-2 victory against Football Combination rivals Torquay at Plainmoor yesterday.

Second-year apprentice Moth, who is enjoying a fruitful spell of work experience with Wessex Premier New Milton Town, opened the scoring after seven minutes.

The teenager fastened on to a Scott Malone free-kick and glanced a delicate header past Gulls goalkeeper Aaron Ibbetson from close range.

Lyle Taylor, who turned in another lively display for the reserves, twice went close to extending Cherries’ lead, while Malone, fully recovered from a hamstring injury, forced Ibbetson into a sharp save as the visitors made all the early running.

However, after holding out to the break without conceding further, the hosts drew level when Rene Howe netted past Shwan Jalal, his former Peterborough team-mate, after 74 minutes.

Then, a frantic finale started with Gary Bowles, a summer signing from Dorchester, restoring Cherries’ lead when he turned Taylor’s corner past Ibbetson at the near post 10 minutes from time.

The drama continued as Howe levelled for a second time in the contest when he despatched a disputed 88th-minute penalty past Jalal following a coming-together between the pair.

Moth, however, had the final say when he popped up with the clincher two minutes from time, the 18-year-old nodding Taylor’s cross home to seal Cherries’ second win in three games.

Cherries included trialist Michael Bryan, a 21-year-old winger from Watford, while midfielder Shaun MacDonald continued his comeback from injury with a 90-minute run-out.

Cherries: Jalal, Case, Cummings, Hester (Zocchi, h-t), Maybury, Bowles, Bryan (Gilkes, 83), MacDonald, Moth, Taylor, Malone (Blackmore, h-t).