U18s Thrash Bournemouth
Saturday, 29th Aug 2026 14:50
Town’s U18s thrashed AFC Bournemouth 6-2 at Playford Road in the U18 Premier League this morning despite having been behind twice.
The Cherries went in front in the 21st minute through Ejiro Akpoguma but winger Jayden Adetiba levelled on the half hour for the Blues.
Bournemouth restored their lead on 40 via Harley Simpson, but Town restored parity at the break through Chris Atherton (pictured), the summer signing netting in injury time.
After the restart it was all Town, Callum Stewart making it 3-2 on 51 and Mustaan Olakazim added the fourth in the 62nd minute, before Atherton, who scored a hat-trick in last week’s 3-1 win at Arsenal, bagged his second of the game on 78.
Sub Roman Burton-Yurevich completed the scoring eight minutes from time.
Town’s U16s gave the Cherries an even bigger hammering in their game, winning 8-2.
Elsewhere, academy schoolboy Zac Wattley has been with the England U16s this week for a training camp in Florence and two friendlies against Italy.
Northgate High School pupil Wattley started the first game on Tuesday, which the Italians won 3-2, and was on the bench for the second on Thursday, when England ran out 2-1 victors.
Central defender Wattley has been with the Blues academy since he was seven years old. He made his Town U18s debut in March aged only 14.
U18s: Twyman, Barry, Ologho (Ness 75), Felicio, Duggins (Brown 82), Boakye-King, Adetiba, Stewart (Conneely 82), Olakazim (Burton-Yurevich 75), Brentnall (Buskell 66), Atherton. Unused: Carr, Barnes.
_Photo: TWTD_