Cherries: Boss Groves is looking for a reaction after defeat against Dolphins (From Bournemouth Echo)

Cherries: Boss Groves is looking for a reaction after defeat against Dolphins

7:00am Saturday 28th July 2012 in Sport By Neil Perrett

MANAGER Paul Groves has demanded a reaction from “one or two personnel” following Cherries ’ unexpected 2-1 defeat by Poole Town at Tatnam last night.

First-half goals from Luke Burbidge and ‘Super’ Alex Baldacchino put a spoke through Cherries’ warm-up campaign in only their second pre-season friendly.

Groves, who saw Cherries put 13 goals past New Milton in their first game, fielded a strong starting line-up which comprised 10 first-team players and trialist left-back Darius Waters.

However, they were rocked when Carl Preston seized on an error by Garry Bowles before picking out Burbidge who finished with a bullet header just seven minutes in.

And the Dolphins doubled their advantage on the stroke of half-time when Baldacchino swept home from close range following good work by Preston and Burbidge.

Guest goalkeeper Jordan Seabright, released by Cherries in May, made a handful of excellent saves during an assured display and was beaten only once by a late Ryan Case header.

Groves told the Daily Echo: “You get one or two things answered as you go through pre-season. The New Milton game was totally different and we knew this would be another couple of levels up.

“One or two questions were answered about one or two personnel. It is up to them to react and it is up to us to address one or two things as well. It is a process you will go through.

“I don’t think we can be happy with the level of performance in terms of what was shown over the first hour. Having said that, they have come off the back of a hard week but I am not going to make excuses. It is pre-season and we are trying to bed in things which takes time.”

Groves said the only real positive he could take from the contest was the performance of “the kids”, with a number of first-year pros and youth players used in the second half.

He said a decision on Waters would be made “sooner rather than later” and confirmed Frank Demouge would make his belated debut in a friendly at Winchester City today (3pm). New signing Eunan O’Kane, however, will not feature at the Denplan City Ground.

Poole, meanwhile, last night completed the signing of striker Lee Chudy, who was used as a second-half substitute against Cherries.

Cherries: Jalal, Bowles, Barrett, Addison, Waters, Pugh, Arter, Gregory, Grabban, Thomas, Tubbs. Subs used: Bajandouh, Cargill, Strugnell, Gilkes, Stockley, Case, Moth, Matthews.

Dolphins: Seabright, Clarke, Spetch, Dibba, Walker, Howes, Brooks, Devlin, Baldacchino, Preston, Burbidge. Subs used: Chudy, Sturgess, Skelton, Richardson, O’Donnell, Jennings, Beasley.