Stephen Purches struck an early goal to lift AFC Bournemouth to their first Nationwide Division 2 win of the season at Wrexham today.

Cherries made the perfect start, taking the lead through Stephen Purches after just eight minutes.

The Bournemouth midfielder fired into the bottom left-hand corner after Steve Fletcher had found him with a header.

Wrexham came back looking for a quick equaliser with Chris Llewellyn driving wide then Darren Ferguson's corner setting up Stephen Thomas for a shot which was punched away by Neil Moss.

Then Carlos Edwards tested Moss with a left-foot shot before Bournemouth threatened when an outswinging corner by James Hayter found Marcus Browning whose six-yard shot was saved by Andy Dibble.

It was a lively affair and a shot by Hector Sam sailed over the bar.

Another corner from Hayter caused confusion in the home ranks and Carl Fletcher, at the near post, hooked a shot over the top. Half-time:

Wrexham 0 Bournemouth 1

Five minutes into the second half Marcus Browning fouled Paul Edwards and picked up the first yellow card of the game.

Wrexham were doing most of the probing and a shot by Llewellyn was just too high.

Stephen Thomas was next to try his luck and that, too, went over the bar.

Bournemouth broke out, forced a corner and from Hayter's kick, Neil Young cracked the ball over the top from 25 yards.

The tempo picked up again in the last ten minutes as Purches, with a corner, set up Carl Fletcher for a shot which whistled wide.

Then, after Young had fouled Edwards, Stephen Thomas tapped the free kick to Paul Barrett who shot over.

Bournemouth tried to tie it up as Warren Cummings found himself a shooting chance which demanded some urgent action from Dibble.

Teams

Wrexham: Dibble, Pejic, Morgan, Lawrence, Carlos Edwards, Barrett, Thomas, Ferguson, Paul Edwards, Sam, Llewellyn. Subs: Whitley, Holmes, Whitfield, Mark Jones, McNulty. Bournemouth: Moss, Broadhurst, Carl Fletcher, Maher, Purches, Hayter, Browning, O'Connor, Cummings, Steve Fletcher, Feeney. Subs: Stewart, Young, Elliott, Thomas, Holmes.

Referee: Tony Bates (Staffs)