Grant Payne reporting from Dean Court.
Bournemouth celebrated their promotion party in style with their biggest win of the season as they dispatched play off hopefuls Port Vale 4-0 at Dean Court.
Brett Pitman, an Alan Connell brace and Josh McQuoid scored the goals in front of the biggest crowd of the season.
Bournemouth could have gone behind after just 2 minutes though after a Vale break ended up with Dan Thomas, making his first league start of the season, coming out to smother from Lewis Haldane.
It was Brett Pitman who had the first effort for the Cherries as his curling free kick from 30 yards sailed over the bar and caused no harm to the Vale 'keeper.
The visitors came within centimetres of taking the lead after just 10 minutes. Lewis Haldane done well to turn his marker and fired in a powerful low shot from 20 yards that crashed against the inside of the post but Bournemouth were able to clear.
After 20 minutes of even play, there was a minute of drama on the half hour as both sides had golden opportunities to break the deadlock.
The hosts came agonisingly close to taking the lead in the 30th minute. Rhoys Wiggins whipped in a devilish free kick which was headed on by Steve Fletcher, it eventually fell to Brett Pitman whose shot from close range clipped the outside of the post.
The response was swift for Vale and they could have taken the lead within a minute of the woodwork saving them. Craig Davies fired in a shot from the corner of the 18 yard box which forced an excellent one-handed save from Dan Thomas to force it over the bar.
It was Pitman providing the inspiration though and his clever back heel set up a half chance for the hosts but Lee Bradbury's effort cannoned off of Steve Fletcher on the penalty spot.
Into the second half and Bournemouth started brightly and the home side felt they should have had a penalty 3 minutes after the break as Wiggins tumbled in the area, but referee Simon Hooper said nothing doing.
The Cherries continued to pile on the pressure in front of the newly crowned Steve Fletcher Stand with Liam Feeney having a deflected effort that ruffle the side netting after 53 minutes.
And it was from that corner that Bournemouth took a deserved lead. Wiggins played it in low; Lee Bradbury cleverly stepped over it and top scorer Pitman fired in a well placed shot into the bottom right corner with Chris Martin helpless to stop it.
The visitors were looking for an instant response and they almost had it but their Captain Marc Richards could only direct his header into the side netting from 12 yards.
As the tempo of the game increased, the Cherries were buzzing and neat interplay between Fletcher and Feeney saw the latter shooting just wide of the Vale target on the hour.
But back came Vale again and they were within inches of getting the equalising goal. Davies done well down the right and skimmed a ball into the corridor of uncertainty but Thomas got a hand on it and no-one at the back post could convert for the visitors.
Vale had a glorious opportunity to draw level as Substitute Robert Taylor broke free in the Bournemouth box but could only skew his shot horribly wide.
The game, being played like a cup final was producing attack after attack and Pitman could have killed the visitors off but could only put his header wide from 6 yards.
Vale were throwing numbers forward looking for the goal that could prove pivotal in their bid for a play off place. And Craig Davies had a great chance to level proceedings but could only shoot over from the edge of the box.
But with over 9,000 fans in Dean Court Bournemouth were looking to impress and they doubled their lead with just under 15 minutes. Alan Connell had only been on the best part of 2 minutes but showed his class as he broke towards the Vale goal and spotting the 'keeper off his line, delightfully chipped the ball over him into the far corner of the net.
Connell was in the goal scoring mood and doubled his tally just 5 minutes later. Pitman flicked the ball over his head to send Feeney away down the right who chipped the ball in for the substitute to head home into the far corner.
The Cherries really were in the party mood with 4 minutes to go as they scored a fourth goal. And it was yet another inspired substitution from Eddie Howe as Josh McQuoid rose to head home from a Feeney cross.
At the final whistle Bournemouth fans invaded the pitch, but more importantly with Rochdale losing the Cherries will be looking to end the season in second place.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
90 - The final whistle goes. Final score: AFC Bournemouth 4-0 Port Vale. Despite a polite request to not enter the pitch, a traditional pitch invasion occurs!
89 - Shaun Cooper concedes a corner. Yates fouls Hollands and Thomas kicks long.
88 - Rhoys Wiggins is replaced by Warren Cummings.
87 - GOAL!! AFC BOURNEMOUTH 4-0 PORT VALE - Cross from Feeney picks out Josh McQuoid who outjumps his marker to make it 4-0 to the Cherries.
83 - Today's men of the match and men of the season: Eddie Howe and Jason Tindall!
82 - Substitution for Bournemouth with Marvin Bartley being replaced by Josh McQuoid.
81 - GOAL!! AFC BOURNEMOUTH 3-0 PORT VALE - Pitman flicks the ball over his head to Feeney on the right wing. He delivers the cross into Alan Connell who strikes again and sends the Cherries into a commanding lead.
78 - Port Vale charge down the other end and win a corner. The corner is again scrambled clear as the home side retain the clean sheet.
76 - GOAL!! AFC BOURNEMOUTH 2-0 PORT VALE - An incredible strike from substitute Alan Connell. He collects the ball around 25 yards from goal, spots the keeper off his line and lobs it agonizingly over him and into the back of the net.
75 - Ball falls to Liam Feeney on the edge of the box. His left footed effort is narrowly wide
74 - Steve Fletcher receives a standing ovation as he is replaced by Alan Connell.
73 - Yates cross up high towards Richards who fouls Dan Thomas, before the ball is bundled in.
70 - Sean Rigg finds Craig Davies on the left. He cuts onto his right foot but curls his shot well over the bar.
69 - Free kick cleared to Tommy Fraser on the edge of the box but Pearce clears the danger.
68 - Cross into the box finds Pitman 6 yards from goal but he can only head it wide. That was a real chance to put some daylight between the two sides.
67 - Robert Taylor's left footed effort just inside the area is closer to the corner flag than the goal and the Cherries survive once again.
65 - A succession of Port Vale crosses and shots are blocked, most notably Doug Loft's effort which was blocked well by Cooper. Corner is flicked on by Richards but scrambled off of the line. Port Vale are having a great spell at the moment.
64 - Attendance is announced at a season best 9,055.
63 - A cross from the right by Davies was begging to be tapped in by the Vale strike-force but Dan Thomas got a hand on it and did enough to put off everyone.
61 - Liam Feeney switches back to the right wing and cuts inside sending his fizzing left footed effort wide. Double substitution for Port Vale with Dodds and Haldane being replaced by Robert Taylor and Sean Rigg.
60 - Anton Robinson picks up the ball 20 yards from goal but perhaps had too much time on his hands and the shot was blocked.
59 - Feeney and Pitman link up once again. The winger sends an inviting cross into the area but Fletcher couldn't quite reach it.
56 - It's end to end stuff now with the visitors needing a goal for their playoff hopes and then the Cherries on the counter attack after gaps are being left. A great start to the second half.
54 - Free kick taken by Fraser and cleared by Fletcher. Bournemouth had a two on two situation with Feeney and Pitman but the goalscorer went for the audacious lob from the half way line, much to Feeney's annoyance!
53 - GOAL!! AFC BOURNEMOUTH 1-0 PORT VALE - Wiggins corner taken along the floor. Lee Bradbury dummies it and Brett Pitman slides in his 26th league goal of the season.
52 - Long ball by Bartley finds Pitman. The striker lays it off to Liam Feeney whose shot is deflected into the side netting.
48 - Good link up play between Hollands, Pitman and Wiggins which eventually sees the latter sprawled on the floor in the penalty area. Referee Hooper waves away the protest for a penalty. Corner by Pitman is eventually gathered by Martin in the Port Vale goal.
47 - Shot by Danny Hollands is over the bar.
46 - Substituton for Port Vale with Anthony Griffith being replaced by Tommy Fraser. Bournemouth kick off.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
45+2 -The half time whistle goes.
45+1 - Good build-up play from Bournemouth. Bartley finds Bradbury on the right and he feeds it into Pitman. Pitman then backheels the ball to Bradbury but the defender's left footed effort is scuffed.
Bou45 - 2 minutes are added to the half.
43 - Yellow card for Vale right back Adam Yates.
42 - Ball falls to Brett Pitman on the left of the area. His left footed effort sails high and wide.
41 - Free kick flicked on by Fletcher but no-one can gather it in and the ball is cleared for a throw in.
35 - Kris Taylor is booked after cynically pulling back Liam Feeney as he darted down the right flank. Wiggins free kick is cleared by Griffith who has been dominant in the air so far today.
34 - Rhoys Wiggins' free kick is cleared out as far as Bradbury. The right back lifts a cross into the box which just evades Danny Hollands.
31 - Craig Davies tests young keeper Dan Thomas with a 25 yard effort towards the bottom left hand corner. After a shaky start, Thomas does well to tip the ball wide.
30 - Wiggins curls in a free kick which Fletcher flicks on. Pitman takes one touch on his thigh to control it and then stretches to reach the ball for a shot which clips the post. The best opening for Bournemouth in this match.
28 - Marvin Bartley receives a yellow card when it was him who appeared to be fouled!
27 - Long throw by Feeney is cleared. Still no clear cut chance for Bournemouth.
22 - Anthony Griffith receives a yellow card after a strong challenge on Marvin Bartley.
21 - Poor kick from Dan Thomas is picked up by Craig Davies. The visiting striker tries an audacious lob but it never threatens to go in.
20 - Bartley adjudged to have fouled Kris Taylor. Taylor takes the free kick himself but it is easily cleared.
17 - A weaving run down the left wing by Haldane who beats Marvin Bartley before seeing his low cross cleared for a corner which Dan Thomas catches well.
15 - Free kick taken long by Wiggins and Bradbury flicks it on. Anton Robinson can't take it under control and the danger is cleared.
10 - Lewis Haldane picks the ball up 20 yards from goal and beats Dan Thomas but sees his effort rebound off of the post.
9 - Top Vale scorer Marc Richards has his first sniff at goal but his half volley ends up in the arms of Dan Thomas.
8 - Long throw from Danny Hollands is headed clear by Griffith.
5 - Brett Pitman registers the Cherries first shot of the match with a long range free kick. It ends up a couple of yards over the crossbar.
4 - Doug Loft has an effort from around 20 yards out but it drifts wide.
2 - Bradbury free kick headed out by Griffith. Port Vale counter attack comes to nothing after Haldane collides with Dan Thomas. Haldane comes off worse and receives treatment.
0 - Port Vale kick off in front of a fantastic away support. The Cherries are defending the Steve Fletcher Stand, sporting their new home strip.
Promoted AFC Bournemouth are without keeper Shwan Jalal as they aim to extend their unbeaten home run to 9 matches. Port Vale need to pick up points as they aim to secure a playoff place by extending their unbeaten run to 7 games, after an impressive win over champions Notts County last week. As well as the 3 points, Cherries striker Brett Pitman will be aiming to close the gap in the race to become League 2's top scorer. After netting 5 in his last 4 matches, Pitman is now just 3 goals behind Notts County's Lee Hughes who has 28 League 2 goals in their title winning campaign. Here are the lineups:
AFC Bournemouth: Thomas; Bradbury, Cooper, Pearce (c), Wiggins; Feeney, Bartley, Hollands, Robinson; Pitman, Fletcher
Subs: Guyett, Cummings, McQuoid, Partington, Igoe, Connell, Goulding
Manager: Eddie Howe
Port Vale: Martin; Yates, McCombe, K.Taylor, Collins; Dodds, Griffith, Loft, Haldane; Davies, Richards (c)
Subs: Anyon, Molyneux, R. Taylor, Fraser, Rigg, Morsy, Horsfield
Manager: Micky Adams
Referee: Mr. Simon Hooper
Live updates from Tom Crocker at Dean Court.
