CHERRIES rounded off their pre-season schedule in sublime fashion with an impressive 3-0 victory over Champions’ League qualifiers Lyon.

First-half goals from Callum Wilson, his third of the summer, and Gavin Kilkenny paved the way for Eddie Howe’s men before Joshua King also got on the scoresheet after the break.

The result meant the Dorset club had triumphed in three of their six outings in pre-season heading into their Premier League curtain-raiser against Sheffield United next Saturday.

Cherries handed starts to new recruits Arnaut Danjuma and Philip Billing following their respective moves from Huddersfield and Club Brugge this week.

There was also a first appearance of the pre-season campaign for defender Steve Cook following the groin injury which left him requiring further surgery over the summer.

Aaron Ramsdale was given his third start of pre-season in goal, while youngsters Nnamdi Ofoborh and Kilkenny were also included.

Seven-times French champions Lyon came into the contest having beaten Arsenal in the Emirates Cup.

Managed by former Gunner Sylvinho, the visitors lost 3-1 to Liverpool in a friendly in Geneva on Wednesday.

The French outfit were gifted an early opportunity with just two minutes on the clock.

After Kilkenny misplaced a pass back to Ramsdale, the Cherries keeper was tasked with making a sharp reflex stop to deny Bertrand Traore – former Celtic man Moussa Dembele fired wide on the follow-up.

But it was Cherries who gained the advantage on 10 minutes. Kilkenny showed great composure to pick out Ofoborh out wide, who cut the ball back for Wilson to curl into the corner of the net.

A classy Cherries move then almost doubled their advantage. Billing played a perfectly-weighted pass to Kilkenny, who waited for the overlapping Adam Smith to surge forward.

The full-back’s drilled delivery across the six-yard box narrowly evaded Joshua King.

But Kilkenny did manage to find the net on 19 minutes – the Republic of Ireland youth international coolly struck home after Wilson’s incisive ball across the box.

Cherries were rampant during the opening quarter and Nathan Ake thought he had made it 3-0. His glancing header looked goalbound before Lyon keeper Anthony Lopes took flight to deny the Dutchman.

Danjuma then nearly got in on the act as the two new recruits combined. Billing’s searching cross-field ball was perfect for the winger and he worked the keeper after a sharp one-two with Wilson.

Lyon then showed their threat on the counter. After Traore breezed past Diego Rico, he found former Manchester United man Memphis Depay – but Ramsdale was alert to thwart the Netherlands star.

Cherries almost pounced on a Lyon error just short of the hour mark. Lopes’s misplaced goal-kick was gathered by Billing and after he found Wilson, King was just denied.

That was to be Danish star Billing’s last act, as he was replaced by youngster Corey Jordan.

The visitors then looked to get back into the contest when Depay’s neat pass opened up space for frontman Martin Terrier. His shot flew inches wide.

But the contest was wrapped up 18 minutes from time when King caught Lyon napping.

After Lopes played a short goal-kick to Joachim Andersen, the Norwegian international shrugged off the defender before passing the ball into the net via a one-two with Wilson, who claimed his second assist of the afternoon.

Cherries: Ramsdale (Boruc, h-t); Smith (Zemura, 76), Cook (Dobre, 67), Ake, Rico; Kilkenny, Ofoborh, Billing (Jordan, 61), Danjuma; King (Sherring, 86) Wilson (Surridge, 76).

Unused sub: Dennis (g/k).