4:51pm Saturday 31st July 2010
By Neil Perrett
YOUNG gun Elliott Ward enjoyed a dream debut as Cherries completed their pre-season friendly campaign with a convincing 5-0 victory over Dorchester Town today.
The 16-year-old, who has just started a two-year apprenticeship at Dean Court, scored twice and set up a goal for Danny Ings as Cherries turned on the style at the Avenue Stadium.
Parkstone-based Ward was one of a number of young players on duty for Cherries as boss Eddie Howe took the opportunity to rest the majority of his first-team squad.
And with Ward, Ings, Jayden Stockley, Joe Partington and Josh McQuoid all playing their part in an excellent display, the polished performance was a major triumph for the Dean Court youth ranks.
Ward’s first-half double, coupled with goals from Ings, 16-year-old striker Stockley and McQuoid, saw Cherries comprehensively defeat the Conference South outfit.
Ryan Hill went close to drawing first blood for the Magpies when his sweetly-struck 12th-minute free kick flashed narrowly past the post.
Cherries responded almost immediately when good work between Ings and Partington ended with Stockley’s header hitting the crossbar.
And after McQuoid had seized on the loose ball and rolled it into Ward’s path, the youngster made no mistake and picked his spot in the bottom corner.
Cherries goalkeeper Gareth Stewart saved low down from a Ryan Moss effort before Stockley headed over after rising to meet McQuoid’s hanging cross.
The visitors doubled their lead midway through the first half when Ings again showed some neat skill to open up the Magpies defence and create the opportunity.
After turning his marker near the touchline, Ings squared for Stockley who unselfishly teed up Ward for his second, the teenager’s shot taking a wicked deflection off Dorchester defender Kyle Critchell.
And Cherries quickly raced into a 3-0 lead when Stockley pounced on a weak punch by Magpies goalkeeper Regan Coward to tap the ball into an empty net from close range.
Ward turned provider for Ings to make it 4-0 just five minutes into the second period as Cherries maintained a high tempo.
Ings applied a composed finish, beating Coward with a left-foot strike, after Ward’s slide-rule pass had sent him clear on the edge of the 18-yard box.
Former Cherries trainee Moss twice went close to reducing the arrears, while Stewart, called in to deputise for the injured Dan Thomas, saved well from Matt Groves.
However, McQuoid completed the scoring 12 minutes from time, finishing with aplomb after darting into the 18-yard box.
Cherries: Stewart, Nelson, Garry (Strugnell, 73), Tindall (Hester, 68), Cummings (Parsons, 79), Partington, Purches (Wakefield, 79), Ward, McQuoid (Chiedozie, 79), Ings, Stockley.
Dorchester: Coward, R Hill, Critchell, Jermyn, Walker (Frampton, 56), K Hill, Coutts, Gleeson, Douglas (Groves, 56), Moss (Allen, 68), Devlin.
Referee: Adrian Tranter.
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