ALLOW me to join the chorus of disapproval over the very public spat between Brett Pitman and Max Gradel during Cherries' fortuitous FA Cup triumph against Barrow.

Quite what the petulant pair of teenagers were thinking as they childishly argued over who should take a last-minute penalty was anybody's guess.

The mocking Sky Sports pundits had a field day at their expense, while their petty squabble brought ridicule on the club. It was like something out of the playground. Gradel clutched the ball, insisting that it was his and nobody else could play with it, while Pitman threw his toys out of his pram and also appeared to be telling teacher as he gesticulated towards the dugout.

It later emerged that Pitman was apparently one of the designated penalty-takers and may have had a point, while Gradel had his own emotional reasons for wanting to step up to the plate following the untimely recent death of his mother.

Whatever the circumstances, neither player covered himself in glory and neither were permitted by boss Kevain Bond to explain their actions to the press post-match. That was probably a public relations masterstroke because, although Gradel may have subsequently converted the penalty, it might as well have been an own goal.

The bizarre incident can have done little for team spirit or morale and must have been an embarrassment to club officials.

I certainly would not want to be seen to be condoning their actions, but - and this is a very big but - there was a rather perverse flip side to their quarrel.

As an absorbing cup tie reached a gripping conclusion, Cherries were undeservedly thrown a lifeline when referee Roger East awarded them the now-infamous penalty in the dying seconds of normal time.

Until the finger of fortune had pointed to the spot, Cherries, trailing 2-1 to a bunch of part-timers from three leagues below, were staring defeat in the face, while a place in the second round and £16,000 in prize money looked set to go up in smoke.

However, together with the financial rewards, there was also an immeasurable helping of professional pride at stake for Bond's cosseted stars.

Make no mistake, as the clock ticked, they were on the verge of becoming victims of one of the biggest shocks in the club's FA Cup history and the ignominy would have lived with the players for years to come.

What did it say then that two 19-year-olds were prepared to shoulder that responsibility, albeit going about it completely the wrong way?

Stupidity and irresponsibility immediately sprung to mind as their juvenile set-to ensued.

But - and with a capital B - their respective reactions in the heat of the moment also highlighted an element of courage, nerve and bottle. Despite their tender years, they were both big enough and brave enough to put themselves in the firing line, stick their necks out and run the risk of carrying a heavy burden.

And while hard lessons have inevitably been learned by the pair, hopefully they will both come through the other side as grown men rather than naughty boys.