United’s under-21 side were beaten 5-2 at AFC Bournemouth U21s this afternoon in the Central League Cup.
Missing players such as Slavi Spasov and Kyran Lofthouse who are on loan at Woking, United took the chance to give a number of their under 18s a chance to step up, but they found it hard going against a more experienced Cherries side who took the lead after 15 minutes when Ben Greenwood slotted past Kie Plumley despite the keeper making two excellent stops.
Greenwood then made it 2-0 before Jaidon Anthony made it three from the spot.
United responded well and soon had a goal of their own when midfielder Leon Chambers-Parillon touched home a cross from skipper Jack Stevens to make it 3-1 at the break.
The U’s then got themselves back into the game when Josh Anifiwose stole the ball in the middle of the park and made it 3-2, only for the hosts to restore their two-goal cushion almost immediately before Anthony netted his second of the afternoon with a low drive from long range to make it 5-2.
UNITED
Plumley, Watt, Nosokhare, Jones, Golding, Elechi, Gardner, Sole, Anifowose, Chambers-Parillon, Stevens