Ben at the double as the Cherries hit top spot

Winterburn started and completed the scoring as the Cherries triumphed 3-2 over Cardiff City at Wimborne Town’s New Cuthbury on Friday.

Alan Connell’s team had been locked on 29 points with South Group leaders QPR, the Londoners topping the table due to a superior goal difference.

However, Winterburn’s double, coupled with Dan Adu-Adjei’s penalty, saw the Cherries claim all three points from an eventful contest which also saw Cam Plain save a first-half spot-kick.

The Cherries were thankful to Winterburn in the early stages, the defender putting Joel Colwill off his stride as he prepared to pull the trigger when well placed.

Gavin Kilkenny’s snapshot flew wide before Kian Tydeman just failed to make contact with a dangerous cross from Finn Tonks.

As the hosts began to assert, Adu-Adjeu’s strike following good work by Nathan Moriah-Welsh and Tydeman was deflected for a corner before Kilkenny’s effort was turned behind.

The Cherries drew first blood in the 17^th minute when Winterburn stooped to head home from inside the six-yard box.

He was in the right place at the right time after Adu-Adjei’s initial header from a Tydeman corner had been blocked on the line by Bluebirds midfielder Dan Barton.

As the visitors went in search of a quick response, Noa Boutin’s recovery tackle prevented Colwill from going clear on goal.

Tydeman lifted his shot over the crossbar having been teed up by Moriah-Welsh before Ben Greenwood’s well-struck free-kick was parried by Cardiff goalkeeper Jake Dennis.

Cardiff were awarded a penalty when Tonks was judged to have brought down Colwill just inside the box in the 35th minute.

But although the striker took responsibility from the spot, he was foiled as Plain made a superb save, diving to his right to parry with both hands.

The visitors went close to restoring parity four minutes before half-time when Cian Ashford embarked on a driving run and tried his luck with an effort which hit the outside of the post.

And another fine save from Plain thwarted them on the stroke of the interval, the goalkeeper getting down smartly to push away Colwill’s first-time effort following a quick break.

Both teams defended resolutely at the start of the second half, ensuring neither goalkeeper was tested in the early stages.

Winterburn met Greenwood’s 55^th-minute corner at the far post, only to see his looping header clear the crossbar before Plain got down at his near post to scoop away Finlay Johnson’s shot. 

Cardiff levelled after 61 minutes when substitute Tanatswa Nyakuhwa climbed to meet a cross from Freddie Cook and planted his header past the outstretched hand of Plain.

Dominic Sadi traded passes with Adu-Adjei before taking aim with a left-foot shot from 20 yards, Dennis diving full length to turn it past the post.

The Cherries were awarded a penalty when Bluebirds defender Vontae Campbell handled after Greenwood’s corner had been helped on by Adu-Adjei.

And Adu-Adjei kept his nerve to calmly convert from the spot, the striker sending Dennis the wrong way to register his 16^th goal of a productive season after 71 minutes.

Cardiff levelled for a second time when James Crole swept home a bobbly shot from the edge of the box after being picked out by Nyakuhwa's cross nine minutes from time.

However, the pendulum swung back in the Cherries’ favour when Winterburn rifled a 20-yarder into the back of the net after a cross had only been half cleared in the 85th minute.

Campbell cleared off the line in added time after Adu-Adjei had met Balraj Landa's square pass, the defender preventing the Cherries from further extending their lead.

AFC Bournemouth: Plain, Tonks, Boutin, Kilkenny (Brown, 75), Winterburn, Greenwood, Moriah-Welsh, Sadi, Adu-Adjei, Dacosta Gonzalez (Johnson, 72), Tydeman (Landa, 75).

Unused subs: Rees-Dottin, Allan (g/k).

Cardiff City: Dennis, Campbell, Giles, Barton (Kavanagh, 68), Benjamin, Cook, Ashford (Nyakhuma, 58), Kenniford, Crole, Colwill (Johnson, 58), Conte.

Unused subs: Spiers, Thomas (g/k).

Referee: Steven Hughes.