UNDER-18 boss Alan Connell hailed Cherries’ “professionalism and maturity” as they sealed a 5-0 win over Newport County.

A first-half double from Euan Pollock set the visitors on their way to victory, while there were also goals for Jake Adams, Matt Burgess and Aaron Roberts.

The success meant Connell’s side have won their past four fixtures in the EFL Youth Alliance.

Speaking about their latest win at Lliswerry High School, former Cherries striker Connell told the club website: "We spoke before the game about making sure our mentality was right and backing up a good performance last week against Oxford.

"Two of our players, Jack Wadham and Owen Bevan, had a great opportunity to train with the first team. We got the late shout that they were with the first team and that gave a couple of others opportunities to start the game.

"It was a difficult game and Newport gave us some problems, but I felt we were quite solid defensively with Jack Seddon leading the back line really well.

"We took our opportunities, we scored some good goals, probably could have scored a couple more but were maybe a little bit wasteful in the final third.

"It was a difficult game but one that we ended up making comfortable for ourselves by the boys applying themselves with professionalism and maturity.”

He added: "There was a real steeliness about us and everyone was delighted at the end with another clean sheet - we want to keep that defensive run going as well."

The under-18s are set to visit Yeovil on Saturday, October 17 (11am).