STEPHEN Purches said he had been impressed with Cherries’ display during their 2-1 defeat by Final Third Development League rivals Gillingham today.

Josh O’Hanlon’s header sandwiched goals from Luke Norris and Greg Cundle as Cherries went down to a strong Gills teams at the Kent club’s Beechings Cross training ground.

Irishman O’Hanlon nodded a precision cross from Jon Muleba past experienced goalkeeper Glenn Morris to level for Cherries in the 25th minute.

Earlier, Norris’s 18th-minute goal had given Gills the lead before rising star Cundle’s stunning 20-yarder gave Cherries goalkeeper Jordan Holmes no chance seven minutes from time.

Kevin O’Connor, who is on the books of League of Ireland outfit Waterford United, played the full 90 minutes in central midfield for Cherries after joining the club on trial.

Development squad coach Purches told the Daily Echo: “The lads as a group pretty much did everything that had been expected of them throughout the game.

“The two goals we conceded weren’t great but, as a whole, we played some good stuff. For large spells of the game, I enjoyed watching them play against a Gillingham side full of first-team squad members.”

Cherries: Holmes, Muleba, Addison, Simpson, Kaye (Lee, 85), M Coulibaly, O’Connor, Butcher, Walsh, Whitfield (Matthews, 60), O’Hanlon (A Coulibaly 75). Unused subs: Bassele, O’Flaherty (g/k).