County’s U18s narrowly lost 2-0 against an unbeaten AFC Bournemouth side with a late goal from Jake Scrimshaw in the 77th minute sealing the defeat.
The Cherries started the first-half as the stronger side, causing problems for the Young Exiles due to their physicality and sharp passing.
It looked a certainty that Bournemouth would open the scoring in the 15th minute and they would have had it not been for the excellence of Jay Williams who blocked the ball on the line.
The South-Coast side continued to pressure Byron Anthony’s side hitting the post after exposing the County defence. The defence then got in the way of the second shot to keep the scores level after 22 minutes.
Eventually the resilience of the Young Exiles was broken with Gavin Kilkenny’s powerful shot from outside the box clipping the crossbar as it flew into the back of the net.
County started searching for an equalizer and five minutes they came close as Tom Hillman drifted past the Cherries’ players brilliantly and setting up Owen Taylor 30 yards away from goal.
Taylor’s shot was blocked however, meaning the home side would go into the break 1-0 down.
The Young Exiles started the second-half brightly.
Michael Cook would be the first player to test ‘keeper Parker-Trott, who was forced into a brilliant save to keep the ball out of the net four minutes into the half.
County might have had an equalizer had it not been for the linesman’s flag. Tom Savigar was suddenly one-on-one with Parker-Trott, but was ruled offside before he had the chance to finish past the goalkeeper in the 58th minute.
Despite having a period of dominance, twelve minutes later Callum Brain had to make a brilliant stop after Ryan Glover’s shot seemed destined for the top corner.
Then in the 77th minute, the hosts would concede again with Jake Scrimshaw putting Alan Connell’s team 2-0 up.
County made three substitutions in the hope of getting back into the game, with Evan Press, Shay Snell and Ryan Scrivens all coming on for the Exiles.
It just wasn’t their day though, losing to last season’s EFL Youth Alliance cup Winners Bournemouth 2-0 at Lliswerry School after goals from Scrimshaw and Kilkenny in the first and second-half respectively.