AFC Bournemouth line up .this afternoon at Darlington Arena with Danny Hollands starting his first game of the season and captains the side. Sammy Igoe has tweaked his knee and failed a fitness test.

223 Bournemouth supporters helped to boost the crowd to 1,999 in huge stadium, and they had most to cheer against a spirited Darlington side who handed three players debut's, giving the home side a disjointed look at times.

It was always Bournemouth who looked like scoring, particularly given the hungry form that Brett Pitman showed from the start.  It was Jason Pearce who came closest early on before a superb finish from Pitman gave the side the lead on 17 minutes.  Liam Feeney's throw in was flicked on by Lee Bradbury and Pitman acrobatically flicked the ball home.

Brett Pitman gives Bournemouth the lead

The home side tried their best to get back in to the game, but the Cherries back four were simply in terrific form and nothing was going to get past them.  When Mark Convery did get a strike on goal, Shwan Jalal was on hand to fist the ball away.  James Devitt was the most dangerous performer for the home side and he worked his way in to a good position, but fired wide as the Cherries went in to the break with a fully deserved lead.

Two up for Pitman - Brett nets from the spot

Darlo introduced Dean Windass for the second half, but again it was the visitors who always looked the more likely to score the next go.  Debutant keeper Russell Hoult did superbly to deny Pitman when he pushed a shot wide.  With the home side pushing forward, there was always the chance for Bournemouth to catch them on the break and that led to a second goal on 83 minutes.  Anton Robinson burst through and was about to net when he was denied by a handball.  Pitman stepped up to confidently score from the spot to wrap up a deserved three points for the league leaders.