NEIL Young admitted Cherries could have "no excuses" about conceding another last-gasp winner - but also said they should take "lots of positives" from their latest defeat.

Young avoided being credited with an own goal as Cherries slipped to an agonising 1-0 reverse at the hands of relegation rivals Cheltenham on Saturday.

The Cherries defender said he had got the final touch after his aerial challenge with Dave Bird had led to the Robins grabbing a dramatic injury-time winner.

And while the identity of the goalscorer was immaterial to Cherries fans, this undeserved defeat saw them slump to the foot of League One and remain six points from safety.

Young inadvertently turned Alex Russell's corner past Gareth Stewart as Cherries conceded a stoppage-time winner at Whaddon Road for the second season in succession.

The Cherries captain told the Daily Echo: "Everybody was very disappointed, especially after what happened here last season.

"I thought we were by far the better team in the first half and, with a bit of composure in front of goal, could have been a couple up by half-time.

"For the goal, we both stooped to head the ball and he nudged me but I think it came off me. It was galling but perhaps if we'd had someone in the space or hadn't given the corner away, it might not have happened. But there are no excuses."

Young added: "There were also a lot of positives to come out of the game and nobody could say that we are a bottom-of-the-league side on the evidence of that performance.

"We passed the ball really well and Jo Tessem came in to give us a bit more composure on the ball. We can take a lot out of it and the lads did really well, which is why it was so disappointing to come off the park with nothing.

"Hopefully, most of our fans who were here were probably quite happy and confident with what they saw. We created a lot of chances and I'm sure we can get the results to push us up the table."

Boss Kevin Bond was left to rue a succession of missed opportunities as this latest defeat saw Cherries remain in deep relegation trouble.

Bond said: "It was heartbreaking. We were by far and away the better team but we couldn't defend a set-piece when it mattered and we got beaten on the strength of it.

"It was hard to take because it happened for them in the last minute but nothing dropped for us. We didn't get a break and although we created lots of situations, we should have done better.

"I thought we played well. We had the majority of the ball and were pressing them for the majority of the second half. They threatened once or twice on the counter attack and we didn't make enough of our chances.

"While we continue to defend set-pieces like we do, we will continue to give away goals and it will continue to cost us points."