CHERRIES coach Stephen Purches said he had taken a “number of positives” from a “hugely beneficial” development squad friendly against Oxford on Tuesday.

Jayden Stockley and Josh Wakefield both made goalscoring returns in the 3-2 win, while Sam Matthews and Miles Addison hit the comeback trail following injury.

Stockley, who had a loan spell at League Two Cambridge United cut short last month, marked his first taste of match action since August with a finely-taken individual effort.

The 21-year-old scored twice in four games for Cambridge but headed back to Dean Court after his deal had been cancelled by mutual agreement.

Wakefield also experienced mixed fortunes during a loan spell at Torquay where he scored once in 10 appearances, including seven from the bench, before he opted against extending his stay.

Purches told the Daily Echo: “Sometimes, it can be the case with loan deals and Jayden and Josh have both shown a great attitude since they have been back.

“Jayden scored an excellent goal against Oxford and it is all about getting game-time which, unfortunately, was something he didn’t get enough of at Cambridge.

“Both him and Josh have been training well and putting in the hard work. The main thing now for their development is getting minutes under their belts.”

Ex-first-team skipper Addison, who sustained a knee injury while on loan at Scunthorpe earlier this season, played the first 45 minutes, while Matthews, sidelined by an ankle injury since September, was given a 30-minute run-out.

Purches added: “These games are designed to give players time. Miles managed to get 45 minutes under his belt which had always been the plan. He came through well so, hopefully, the progression is there for him and he is fit and ready. It was an important game for him.

“We were pleased to see Sam back on the pitch. Our staff have worked hard to get him back to where he is now and it was important for him to play 30 minutes.

“He hasn’t trained a great deal because he has been working on his rehab with the fitness staff and physio. Hopefully, he can get some more training in before the next game and really start to push on.”

Cherries, who resume their Final Third Development League campaign against Cambridge on Tuesday, opened the scoring against Oxford through Mason Walsh.

Cherries: O’Flaherty (Holmes, h-t), Muleba, Addison (Kaye, h-t), McCarthy, Buckley, Cornick, Wakefield, Worthington, Walsh (Matthews, 60), A Coulibaly (Surridge, 70), Stockley.

  • Cherries striker Tokelo Rantie scored twice as South Africa completed their Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign with a 2-2 draw against Nigeria last night.