U18s lose to Bournemouth!
Cheltenham Town U18s’ four game unbeaten run came to an end after they conceded three second half goals to lose 3-1 to Bournemouth.
The Robins took the lead after just 20 minutes when some good pressing early on saw Josh Thomas steal the ball from The Cherries’ defence and slide his effort underneath the keeper.
A mistake from goalkeeper Lewis Clayton let Bournemouth back into the game on 84 minutes before Ryan Davies gave away a penalty, which was subsequently converted, six minutes later.
Bournemouth’s third was a nail in the coffin for Hopkins’ side as they switched formation to try and find a way back into the match. A quick counter attack was finished off and the young Robins’ undefeated streak was over.
Hopkins was frustrated to give away a lead that looked so convincing, and said: “It was very disappointing in the end, we were fully in control in the first half and then came out second half looking for that second goal and it was just a comedy of errors.
“The mistake from our goalkeeper gave Bournemouth the momentum to go on and to get more goals.
“Our strikers weren’t clinical enough up top and we were very disappointing in the final third today.”
With Thomas being substituted early in the second half due to first team commitments, Hopkins was encouraged that his players are showing enough potential to get into the first team.
He said: “If we’re getting players in and around the first team that’s what matters, and if we can get players onto the first team bench, or even starting, that’s our plan”
The U18’s will be hoping they can get their title bid back on track in a few weeks time when they take on Oxford United U18s.