COACH Alan Connell heaped praise on his players despite their 3-0 FA Youth Cup exit at the hands of Tottenham.

A double from England under-17 striker Reo Griffiths followed by a late goal from substitute Rayan Clarke meant Spurs progressed to the fifth round.

But Connell remained upbeat and insisted there were plenty of positives for his under-18s to take from their display at Vitality Stadium.

He told the Daily Echo: “I was still really pleased with the players’ efforts. They gave absolutely everything and I thought they showed in glimpses we are a good team and they are good players.

“It was probably something for us as staff and them as players to look at and say ‘that’s the level we want to get to’.

“They are one of the best teams in the country at this age group and they have some really top players.

“I thought there was some good moments. We got after them and managed to win the ball back but the next pass we never quite made the most of to counter and really hurt them.”

Spurs, coached by former England international Scott Parker, dominated possession in the opening 10 minutes and eventually fashioned the first chance of the contest.

Winger J’Neil Bennett swung the ball into frontman Griffiths, whose header fell straight into the clutches of Will Dennis in the home goal.

Griffiths then turned provider for Tariq Hinds after he burst forward from right-back. His deflected shot from an acute angle was comfortably gathered.

Cherries continued to hold their shape and looked to hit the Lilywhites youngsters on the counter.

Connell’s charges created their first chance on 28 minutes.

A well-worked move from a corner between James Boote and Gavin Kilkenny allowed Ryan Glover the opportunity to take aim from the edge of the box.

His strike stung the palms of Spurs keeper Jonathan De Bie.

Charlie Seaman then advanced down the right and drilled the ball into Ash Pope but the forward failed to find the decisive touch.

Despite Cherries growing into the contest, Spurs took the lead right on the stroke of half-time.

Phoenix Patterson drilled a low cross into Griffiths, who was alert to convert from close range.

Following the break, the visitors went in search of a second. Paris Maghoma forced a sharp reaction stop from Dennis with a dipping free-kick.

And on 56 minutes, Griffiths got his second. He was allowed to run through after some confusion in the home defence and steered into the bottom corner for 2-0.

Looking for a response, Seaman curled a free-kick from 25 yards round the wall but the attempt was comfortable for stopper De Bie.

At the other end Maghoma rattled the frame of the goal with a free-kick of his own.

A goal-line clearance from Brennan Camp then kept Cherries in the tie, he slid in to hack the ball away after Spurs substitute Tashan Oakley-Boothe struck goalwards.

But the game was wrapped up when substitute Rayan Clarke tapped in for Tottenham to ease into the next round, where they will face either Chelsea or West Brom.

Cherries: Dennis, Seaman, Morrison (Hanfrey, 77), Ofoborh, Camp, Nippard, Glover (Diaz, 73), Boote, Pope (Scrimshaw, 73), Kilkenny, Anthony. Unused subs: Ward, Dinsmore