CHERRIES Academy manager Joe Roach described as “a good learning curve” their run-out against Southern League opposition AFC Totton.

Goals from Matt Worthington and Luke Holmes saw Cherries claw back a two-goal deficit before drawing 2-2 at the Testwood Stadium on Saturday.

Roach had arranged the friendly with his close friend Steve Riley, who manages the Southern League Division One South & West outfit.

Cherries, who had seen their two previous Youth Alliance matches postponed, were without a league game on Saturday, while the Stags also had a gap in their fixture list.

Roach told the club website: “It was good to just get a game in and we are very thankful to Totton for giving us the opportunity to play at short notice.

"We didn’t start that well, but then we were playing against an adult team. We had to work very hard. They caused us a few problems early on, but we put that down to having a couple of weeks off – that’s football.

"In the second half, we bedded in and played a lot better. I think it will be a good learning curve for the lads to play against an adult non-league side.”

Cherries, who are already guaranteed a place in the Youth Alliance Merit League, which starts early next year, will entertain Coventry City at Dean Court on Friday in the FA Youth Cup third round (6pm).

Roach added: “The upcoming FA Youth Cup will be very important for us as a club and the Merit League after Christmas means we will play different teams, which will offer us different challenges.”

Cherries found themselves 2-0 down after only 20 minutes against AFC Totton before midfielder Worthington halved the deficit in the 38th minute when he finished a well-worked corner routine. And Holmes levelled midway through the second half.

Cherries: O’Flaherty, Lee, Lander, Butcher, Harfield, Randall (Jordan, 75), Worthington, Holmes, O’Con-nell, Surridge, Quigley (Young, 55).