CHERRIES’ development side fell at the first hurdle in this season’s Under-21 Premier League Cup having shipped a last-ditch goal at AFC Wimbledon.

Skipper Will Nightingale plundered the decisive strike as Dons progressed with a 1-0 victory in the first-qualifying round clash at Kingsmeadow yesterday.

Academy boss Joe Roach and under-18s manager Carl Fletcher took charge of Cherries in the absence of Stephen Purches, who was attending the National Football Centre at St George’s Park as part of his FA Advanced Youth Award – the youth equivalent of the A licence.

Wimbledon started brightly but only forced visiting keeper Jordan Holmes into one meaningful save from Chace Jacquart.

Harrison Gilkes proved to be Cherries’ biggest threat during the opening 45 minutes, drawing a smart low stop from home custodian Joe McDonnell before fizzing a powerful 25-yard drive narrowly wide.

The visitors grew in stature as the first half progressed and almost grabbed the lead when Josh Carmichael drew a flying save from McDonnell with a stinging shot that looked destined for the net.

But Dons came out for the second half with renewed vigour and soon cranked up the pressure. Jacquart wriggled his way through for a one-on-one which drew the best from Holmes, while home trialist Andy Robinson saw his free kick deflected just wide.

Lively Wimbledon winger Kevin Sainte-Luce flashed wide of Holmes’s upright during the latter stages but the hosts weren’t to be denied and defender Nightingale thumped home a header from Jacquart’s corner with two minutes to play.

Cherries: Holmes, Muleba, Zubar, Kaye, Buckley, Cornick, Coulibaly (Butcher, 70), Carmichael, Gilkes, Whitfield, Quigley (O’Hanlon, 65). Unused subs: Harfield, Surridge, O’Flaherty (g/k).