Just three seasons since forming their Academy, he was quick to accept the invite from St Paul’s Football Club to come to the Island on a gap weekend for both his under-17 and under-19 sides, the former including Jersey teenager Jack Cannon who is on a contract with The Cherries.Roach said: ‘I was very pleased with the games, it’s great to get away and I was especially pleased for the under-17 lads as they are all first-years at the Club.’They have done nothing like this before, it’s great for team spirit and they knitted together nicely in the end following a good workout.’St Paul’s were well up for the U17 game at Springfield and Luke Watson – a triallist for the Division II club earlier this year – gave the home side the lead with a fine goal after just nine minutes.
Picking up the ball just inside Bournemouth’s half, Watson showed great skill and drive to weave his way past opponent after opponent, playing a couple of one-twos, before drilling home a fine shot.After Bournemouth pulled a goal back Watson then nodded home St Paul’s second from Lucas Parker’s cross.
Bournemouth piled on the pressure at the end and with fitness on their side they netted two late goals to win 3-2.St Paul’s were far from disgraced, they had fought tooth-and-nail in a hard match, against opponents who included former Saint Jack Cannon.Roach said: ‘Our lads are all still learning.
We’ve only been together a couple of months and they are still adjusting to the information that is being passed on to them.’Jack is as consistent as everyone else and there has not been an assessment made on him yet.
He has a good character, has settled in very well and the family who he is staying with are very happy too.’Jack has to establish himself and we have to establish the best position for him.
We could give him a different role if we think it is best for him, but at the moment we’re happy and he is coming along well.’He will have his own goals to achieve and I’m sure it will be the major step of making the reserve team this season.’Cannon looked at home in the left-back berth against St Paul’s.
He was strong in the tackle, read the game and linked with the attack well.
He showed good skill at times as well as putting in several teasing crosses into the heart of St Paul’s penalty area.
And he was only denied a goal when ‘keeper Matthew Seymour deflected a ferocious free-kick onto the barCannon (16), said: ‘I was nervous about coming to Jersey for the game but my team-mates told me to relax and play my own game.
I really enjoyed it in the end but it was strange playing against some of my old mates.’I think I handled it well and I thought I had a decent game.’Cannon has now played in all six of Bournemouth U17s fixtures this season – one league match and five friendlies.’It’s going well, it’s everything I’ve always wanted to do – play football every day.
I’m happy with the way things are going now after a slow start.
I took a bit of time to settle but I’m really enjoying it now and the other players are a good lot to be with.’A lot of the coaching is new to me and I’m learning.
I’ve improved my positioning and communication in the game and I now talk a lot more in the way of giving information and that is breeding confidence in me.’My team manager Mark Kelly is a former pro and he was a left wingback.
I have a lot of confidence in him and he feels the same about me and he is helping me a lot with my game.’It’s very early days for me and I just want to continue to do well and hopefully get a chance sometime later in the season with the reserves.
In fact, I’d be quite happy just to make the substitutes’ bench.’His father, St Paul’s development officer Sam Cannon, arranged AFC Bournemouth’s visit.
He said: ‘It was certainly a worthwhile exercise for both clubs.
Our U18s held their own very well in a competitive match while our seniors suffered a bit I felt because they had played the previous day.
However they dug in and they did well to only concede one goal in the second half.’Bournemouth’s U19s proved far too strong for a St Paul’s senior XI winning by four goals to nil.
