CHERRIES were pegged back by a late goal from Leroy Lita after Carl Fletcher had given them a head start at Dean Court.

City were first to show after three minutes when Scott Murray got in a shot which went wide.

Cherries retaliated when an inswinging corner from the right by Brian Stock was claimed by James Hayter whose header was blocked by City keeper Steve Phillips.

After 14 minutes Warren Cummings had a shot from 18 yards which was turned round the post by Phillips.

Five minutes later Cummings let fly from the left-hand side of the penalty area and this time the ball went over the bar.

Murray collected the first yellow card after 48 minutes for a foul on Cummings.

City left nothing to chance and Cherries were on the receiving end of numerous free-kicks,none of which they were able to capitalise on.

But 36 minutes into the game Cherries got the goal which surely bring the Bristol side out of their shell.

It came from a corner from the right by Stock which Carl Fletcher headed into the bottom right hand corner from six yards.

City immediately moved forward and Bradley Orr hit a shot from 20 yards which was blocked by Karl Broadhurst.

Half-time:

Bournemouth 1

Bristol City 0

City replaced Anyinsah with Steven Gillespie, and Lee Miller came on for Paul Heffernan.

Tommy Doherty was quickly booked for a foul on Derek Holmes before Carl Fletcher fired over the top from distance.

After a foul by a Eddie Howe on Leroy Lita, Doherty lifted the free-kick over the bar.

Cherries got an attack going and Matthew Hill fouled Wade Elliott 25 yards out. Stock tried his luck from the free kick but the shot was too high.

Elliott was off target with a 65th minute effort and City responded as Gillespie let fly from the left only for Neil Young to make the block.

Elliott was looking lively for Cherries and sent in another shot, this time from 25 yards, which Phillips caught.

But City equalised after 77 minutes when Lita drove left-footed into the top corner from the edge of the box.

Team Check

Bournemouth: Moss, Cummings, Broadhurst, Howe, Young, Stock, Carl Fletcher, Browning, Elliott, Holmes, Hayter. Subs: Stewart, Rodrigues, Connell, Coutts, Maher.

Bristol City: Phillips, Smith, Coles, Fortune, Hill, Murray, Doherty, Orr, Anyinsah, Lita, Heffernan. Subs: Miller, Gillespie, Woodman, Goodfellow, Harley. Referee: P Crossley (Kent).