Adu-Adjei nets hattrick as Cherries seal playoff spot with 5-2 win over Wigan

Yahoo

02-05-2025

THE Cherries development squad sealed a spot in the Professional Development League with a convincing 5-2 win over Wigan.
The victory all but secured top spot in the South Group and a home playoff, with Brentford needing to overturn a 14-goal deficit in goal difference at home to Barnsley on Monday.
In front of 1,592 fans, Bournemouth made a flying start and raced out to a 3-0 lead after half an hour, Daniel Adu-Adjei netting twice either side of a Remy Rees-Dottin strike.
But Wigan got two back through Cole Simms and Llyton Chapman, as the hosts held a one goal lead at the break.
Alan Connell's side started the second half as they did the first and quickly extended their advantage back out to two, Dominic Sadi scoring inside the first minute of the half and Adu-Adjei completing his hattrick.
(Image: Sam Sheldon/AFC Bournemouth) That completed the scoring as Bournemouth confirmed their spot in the Professional Development League playoffs.
The Cherries got the game underway and took the lead after 85 seconds, Daniel Adu-Adjei netting his 21st goal in just 14 games, finishing after Dominic Sadi's shot from Ashley Clarke's cross was saved into his path.
There was a good opportunity for two after four minutes, Clarke shooting over the bar after being teed up by Ben Winterburn on the edge of the box.
And the Cherries went close again two minutes later, Sadi putting his effort wide after some neat footwork in the box.
Wigan had their first effort of the game with nine minutes on the clock, Cole Simms shooting straight at Callan McKenna in the Cherries net.
(Image: Sam Sheldon/AFC Bournemouth) It was 2-0 after 12 minutes, Adu-Adjei catching the defence out with a smart run into the box and slipped through by Sadi, the striker squaring it for Rees-Dottin for a simple finish.
Max Kinsey was not far away from heading home a brilliant free kick from Sadi after 20 minutes, before Kinsey was replaced by Koby Mottoh after 27 minutes, the centre back forced off in some discomfort.
The Cherries scored their 100th goal of the campaign and made it 3-0 after half an hour.
It was Adu-Adjei who scored his second of the game after a mesmerising Rees-Dottin run saw him dance past five Wigan defenders and finding Mottoh on the right, his cross turned home by the striker.
The Lactics got one back two minutes later as Simms fired into the bottom corner past Mckenna to reduce the deficit.
(Image: Sam Sheldon/AFC Bournemouth) Sadi drew a save out of Matteo Spinelli as he was played in over the top, before Ben Winterburn entered the book after 41 minutes.
The deficit was further reduced by the visitors as Llyton Chapman slid Jack Reilly in behind the Cherries defence and he smashed home past Mckenna.
Reilly fired wide moments later as the Lactics sought an equaliser before the break, but the hosts held onto their lead at the interval.
The Cherries made another fast start in the second half, Sadi firing into the bottom corner after 47 seconds of the half to extend the hosts' advantage back out to two.
And it was five for the Cherries as Adu-Adjei completed his third hattrick in ten games after 50 minutes, sweeping into the roof of the net from a Mottoh cross after Bournemouth won the ball high up the pitch.
Adu-Adjei had the ball in the back of the net after 61 minutes but Sadi was offside in the build up before Finn O'Boyle shot straight at Mckenna.
Archie Harris was replaced by Toure Williams before Ollie Morgan was booked.
(Image: Sam Sheldon/AFC Bournemouth) Mckenna made a big one-handed save onto the post as Leo Graham shot from a tight angle with just under 20 minutes to play.
Jonny Stuttle came off the bench after returning from his loan spell at Farnborough along with Michael Dacosta Gonzalez, the pair replacing Zain Silcott-Duberry and Clarke.
Simms fired at Mckenna with nine minutes to play, before Harold William made a fantastic last ditch sliding challenge as Simms raced through on goal.
Mckenna made a fantastic save from Harrison Bettoni with two minutes to play, before Adu-Adjei went through one-on-one with Spinelli, the stopper saving well with his head.
The Cherries saw out their comfortable win to see them through into the playoffs.