CHERRIES' development squad fell to a 2-1 defeat at the hands of National South Weymouth in their latest friendly.
First-half goals from Dan Roberts and skipper Tom Bearwish were enough for Weymouth, who also missed a penalty via their captain.
Kian Tydeman’s late goal for Cherries, his third in pre-season, created a tense finish but Weymouth never looked like conceding again and instead missed more chances for a third goal.
As a billowing wind forced the teams to work their way into the game, Cherries got to grips with the conditions quicker.
Ashley Clarke slipped Dan Winterburn through only for a heavy touch to rob him of the chance to shoot.
Weymouth went on to suffer two injuries in the first half as former Cherry Brandon Goodship and Teddy Howe trudged off, replaced by Tommy Stagg and Dylan Adjei-Hersey.
The Terras responded positively as Roberts nodded against the post, Stagg’s follow-up was blocked by Maxwell Kinsey-Williams and Adjei-Hersey glanced a header wide in a third attempt.
Weymouth would lead just past the half-hour mark, though.
Bearwish hounded Toure Williams and his tackle released Roberts into space, the striker coolly electing to check back and use the covering defender as a shield to unsight Billy Terrell and blast a low shot home from 15 yards.
Fewer than 60 seconds later, Weymouth doubled their lead as Cherries failed to track Bearwish’s run, the Weymouth skipper flicking a good header beyond Terrell from Leo Hamblin’s cross.
In a frantic period of the game, Cherries should have scored with their next attack as Clarke was released into space in the box before planting his effort wide of the far post.
And just three minutes after Weymouth’s opening goal, the Terras were given a chance for their third via the penalty spot.
Terrell clumsily flattened Roberts in an aerial duel and the referee awarded a spot-kick, with Bearwish dragging his shot well wide of the left-hand post.
That was the last action of the half and Cherries resumed in the ascendancy after the break, Finn Tonks having a goal chalked out for offside after Clarke had strayed out of line.
The opening 20 minutes of the half proved light on chances but Cherries were always a threat on the break and were unlucky not to halve the deficit, scything through the Weymouth defence and teeing up Clarke who was denied by Anthony Cheshire’s brave block.
Alan Connell's charges did set up an intriguing finale when Kian Tydeman punished a poor pass from sub Chris McQueen, rounding Gerard Benfield to score from six yards.
However, the closing stages were dominated by the hosts who missed a glut of chances to seal the game off.
Terras: Benfield, Howe (Adjei-Hersey 25), Hamblin, Rees (Stephens 80), Cheshire, Rowan (McQueen 70), Roberts (M Brooks 63), Bearwish, Wabo (Monk 73), Goodship (Stagg 14), C Brooks. Subs not used: Dillon, Iseguan.
Cherries: Terrell, Tonks, Boutin, Wadham, Kinsey-Wellings, Harris, Johnson, Williams, Clarke, Winterburn, Tydeman.
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