EDDIE Howe is hoping a Southampton masterclass may have done his Cherries young guns "the power of good".

Reserve boss Howe looked on as slick Saints handed his side a footballing lesson in the Pontin's Holidays Combination clash at Staplewood.

Brett Pitman's second-half wonder goal was scant consolation for Cherries as former Dean Court loan star Leon Best spearheaded Saints to within touching distance of the Central Division title.

But despite the defeat, Howe - who included no fewer than 10 youth team players in his squad - was keen to see the positives.

He said: "We had some really young lads out there and a number of them are first years. They can't fail to learn from playing in a game like that.

"This is the standard and level they aspire to so it's a good starting point for these boys to see what it's all about."

Saints fielded a number of rising stars from their much-vaunted Academy, but it was first-team squad members Best and Nathan Dyer who ran the show.

Best, who hit three goals during a loan spell with Cherries at the start of the season, bagged a hat-trick inside 37 minutes with Lloyd James, Jamie White and Josh Dutton-Black also on the scoresheet.

Howe added: "Leon has improved no end since he was with us. He went to Yeovil and looks a different proposition now. He's strong, quick and took his goals really well. Dyer was also a real threat and they were two tough players for our boys to come up against.

"They are an excellent team. They had a younger side than I have seen in recent weeks, but, in some ways, that worked against us because they've played together and train together every day. It was difficult for us to compete and we struggled in the whole game."

The main highlights for Cherries were an inspired display from goalkeeper Gareth Stewart and Pitman grabbing the goal of the game with an exquisite lob 10 minutes from time. Trialist Michael Kamara from Crystal Palace struggled against the Saints onslaught, something he shared with the majority of his team-mates.

"It was a difficult game to see him at his best because we were under the cosh," said Howe. "He didn't get a chance to impress going forward because it was all hands to the pump.

"We didn't have too many chances but it was a great goal from Brett. It was a good flick from Sam Vokes and an excellent finish."