JOE Roach paid tribute to his schoolboy stars as Cherries battled to a 1-1 draw with Torquay United at Hurn Bridge.

Roach’s side fell behind in the first minute to Sean Latimer’s strike after the young frontman latched on to a poor back pass.

But Cherries were level less than two minutes later when a corner was converted by a combination of Clive Makoni and Ryan Case.

Roach was missing Matt Vokes and Tom Strong as they continued their work experience at Wessex league sides New Milton and Brockenhurst, respectively, leaving Roach to once again field several of the club’s centre of excellence hopefuls.

Roach told the Echo: “We had schoolboys playing who don’t train with us in the week, so we can be a little bit disjointed at times. But full credit to the lads who have come in as schoolboys, because they have applied themselves really well.”

Cherries: Murphy, Turner, Case (Strickland, 74), Maybury, Lindsay, Bell, Wakefield, Hester, Makoni (Blackman, 58), Moth (Zocchi, 75), Parsons. Unused sub: Tierney (g/k).