STEPHEN Purches praised “ruthless” Cherries for the way they coped with “the pressure of needing a result” at Gosport Borough.

The visitors advanced to the Hampshire Senior Cup semi-finals by hammering the National South outfit 6-0.

Mihai Dobre’s 24th-minute effort opened the floodgates at Privett Park, with Jack Simpson and Lewis Cook also on target before half-time.

Dobre’s second goal after the break was sandwiched by strikes from Jordan Green and Matt Worthington.

Under-21s boss Purches told the Daily Echo: “We asked the lads to be ruthless in both boxes and they delivered throughout the game. To keep a clean sheet and score a few goals was excellent.

“If the lads aren’t out on loan, this type of game is the closest they will get to that. It gives them an idea of men’s football. There’s something on the game and it allows them to play under the pressure of needing a result.”

Dobre broke the deadlock when he was left unmarked to head home Worthington’s left-wing corner. From there Cherries’ quick, aggressive football took the game away from a Gosport side managed by ex-Wimborne Town boss Alex Pike.

Simpson turned home after Borough keeper Ellis Grant had palmed out Green’s strike, before Cook rifled in from distance.

Green did get on the scoresheet shortly after half-time following good work from Keelan O’Connell, with Dobre then firing home, high to Grant’s right, after Corey Jordan’s bustling run and cross. Midfielder Worthington charged into the box and slammed a shot into the roof of the net to complete the scoring.

Simpson and O’Connell were both on the bench for Cherries’ recent FA Cup tie at Millwall. And Purches hopes that duo’s first-team involvement will spur on his entire squad.

He said: “To experience that, with the atmosphere and everything that would have been around that game, will only help their development.

“I’m sure it will inspire the others. I know that if I saw someone else on the bench I’d be thinking ‘why can’t that be me?’”

Purches was further heartened by how his team had played in a style reminiscent of their senior counterparts.

He added: "If they understand what’s expected here then, hopefully, that makes the transition (into the first-team) easier if they do get that chance.”

Cherries: Stanton; Jordan, Hobson, Simpson, Harfield; Cook (Ndjoli, 62), Worthington; Green (Ofoborh, 78), O’Connell (Anthony, 85), Dobre; Surridge. Unused subs: Seaman, Dennis (g/k).