Source: Bournemouth_Echo
Cherries: Stockley delighted to get a late call
SCHOOLBOY Jayden Stockley admitted he had punched the air with delight after being given a dramatic late call-up for Cherries' trip to Shrewsbury. The 16-year-old made a brief substitute appearance in Cherries' 1-0 defeat after being drafted in at the 11th hour as cover for an acute player shortage. He received the call mid-morning before he was driven to Shropshire by Cherries youth team boss Joe Roach and took his place on the bench around 20 minutes AFTER kick-off. Stockley took to the pitch wearing a shirt printed with no name or number and was thrust into the fray as Cherries went in search of an equaliser to Terry Dunfield's 49th-minute goal. The teenager helped bolster the Cherries bench to four after their already-depleted resources had been further weakened by the late withdrawal of injured pair Liam Feeney and Jason Pearce. Stockley, who lives in Broadstone, told the Daily Echo: I was at my mate's house getting ready to watch the Chelsea-Manchester City game when Joe phoned. The youth team game had been postponed on Friday and I thought I would have a free weekend but there was nothing better than to get the call. I rushed home and my sister drove me to Dean Court where Joe was waiting for me. I had to wear the blood' shirt, the spare one they use if anybody needs to swap. It was just good to get on. You pray for a half-chance to fall for you, but, unfortunately, nothing fell for me. We played well but nothing dropped for us. It was a heavy pitch but I thought the team's work-ethic and work-rate deserved at least a point. We came here looking for a win and will be looking to bounce back next week. Stockley, who has been revising hard, will today be back at Lytchett Minster School to take mock GCSEs in Spanish, geography, PE, drama and the core subjects. Discussing Cherries' defeat, boss Eddie Howe said: With the group of players I had at my disposal, I thought they gave everything. We were patched up and had people playing out of position and they were outstanding. Our first-half performance was very good and we were unlucky not to be leading at half-time. We were disappointed to concede the goal straight after half-time and then they had a few chances late on because we were chasing the game. In the main, I thought we performed well.