DEVELOPMENT squad head coach Alan Connell thought his side’s 3-2 win over Cardiff City in the Professional Development League demonstrated the lessons young Cherries are learning this season.

A topsy-turvy encounter saw Cherries take the lead three times before eventually seeing off their opponents from south Wales, Ben Winterburn’s brace sandwiching Daniel Adu-Adjei’s converted penalty.

Victory lifted Cherries to three points clear at the top of the Professional Development League table, with Connell believing the game to show how his side have learned from their first season in a full-time competitive league.

He told the Daily Echo: “I thought it was brilliant with regards to (it being) competitive and the fact that we're now in this league, it shows that the development in our players that when there's three points on the line that they want to compete - obviously it’s the same for Cardiff.

“So there was lots to learn in there, as there always is.

“These competitive games are really bringing the best out of our lads.

“There's loads of lessons to take from them.

“It was an entertaining game. It wasn't perfect.

“But our mentality, I think it shone through at the end to get us over the line and win the game.”

Cherries were pegged back on two occasions, but rallied each time to regain their lead. There were other tests of mental strength, with goalkeeper Cam Plain saving a penalty in the first period.

A slice of misfortune saw the goalkeeper beaten for Cardiff’s second, a nasty bobble off a divot leaving Plain with no chance.

“A response so quickly, a couple of times in the second half was great,” continued Connell.

“Like you say, the second goal was unfortunate and that can happen in football.

“But again, we responded.

“The real lessons that I think the players are learning this year, some big ones, are understanding momentum in games.

“I think also the importance of set pieces.

“We've scored three from set pieces (against Cardiff), in different ways.

“In first team football that's vital, as everyone knows.

“So these are big lessons for our boys.

“When they're in first team environments, these details will hopefully give them some successes. “And obviously we're trying to introduce that now along with all the other stuff that is vital in their development.”