EXACTING boss Stephen Purches demanded a more ruthless streak from his up-and-coming Cherries charges – despite their eight-goal blitz against Cambridge United.

Hat-tricks from Jayden Stockley and Harry Cornick accompanied strikes by Josh Wakefield and Aly Coulibaly as Purches’s development side yesterday recorded a thumping 8-3 victory over their Cambridge counterparts.

Cherries leapfrogged United into second in Final Third Development League South courtesy of the result but the manager was not entirely satisfied with the showing on the 3G surface at Canford Arena.

Purches told the Daily Echo: “Some of our forward and combination play was great and we scored some great goals but the only disappointment from my point of view was that we should have been much more ruthless.

“People will look at the score and think that is harsh but we got into some really good positions.

"On another day we might need that one goal to win a game. No matter what the score is you always want to make sure you finish off the opportunities you have.

“Our forward play and runs were good and we used the ball really well. We did not turn down any forward runs and tried to get through as often as we could.

“But on the flip side of that, Cambridge changed systems and caused us problems at different times so we have to be a bit more ruthless at the back as well.

“There will always be positives and negatives and this game gave us both again.”

Purches praised the contribution of hat-trick hero Stockley but commented that the returning striker’s performance had highlighted the team’s profligacy.

Purches added: “Jayden worked hard and took his goals well but if you were to ask him if he could have scored more he would say yes.

“He had a good few chances before that so, like everyone else, the next step is to be that bit more clinical and make the most of every opportunity.”

On the team’s progress, Purches said: “The league games are spread out but we are playing games pretty much every week and the players are getting a lot of exposure to different styles and situations.

“In this case, the Cambridge keeper had a fantastic game so that was something else we had thrown at us.

"It was about dealing with the disappointment when we did not score and overall, we did well with that.”