STEPHEN Purches felt “an excellent all-round team performance” had been pivotal as a youthful Cherries development squad toppled an experienced Reading team yesterday.

Goals from Harry Cornick and Ben Whitfield saw the visitors come from behind to earn a 2-1 victory at the Royals’ Hopwood Park training ground in Finchampstead.

Russian international Pavel Pogrebnyak opened the scoring for a Reading side which included a number of players with first-team experience with Stephen Kelly and Jamie Mackie also in their line-up.

Development squad coach Purches told the Daily Echo: “It was a good game for our lads to be involved in playing against players with a lot of Championship experience.

“Apart from a 10-minute spell at the start where maybe we almost thought they were going to be too good for us, the lads acquitted themselves well and played some good stuff.

“Everybody did well individually but they worked well as a team and their game management was good. It was an excellent all-round team performance.”

Pogrebnyak struck early as Cherries took time to settle before two goals after the break turned the tide.

Jonathan Muleba picked out Whitfield for the first and although the former Guiseley man’s shot was parried, Cornick was on hand to tap home the rebound at the far post in the 55th minute.

Cornick then repaid the compliment, collecting a pass from youth team striker Joe Quigley and turning provider for Whitfield, who made no mistake with an accomplished finish.

Cherries: Holmes, Muleba, McCarthy, Cargill, Buckley, Cornick, Carmichael, A Coulibaly (Butcher, 65), Gilkes (Walsh, 70), Whitfield, Quigley.