The biggest surprise in the line up was that 16 year-old David McGoldrick was given his first start for Notts by manager Gary Mills. Other surprises were that Darren Caskey and Ian Baraclough were dropped to the bench. Also on-loan winger Tony Scully was brought in on the left and Andy Parkinson, in his last game for Notts, was moved to the right wing. Tony Barras was also brought in for the suspended Ian Richardson
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Bournemouth hit back with Fletcher almost forcing a mistake out of Fenton and Garden, but Garden recovered and hit the ball to safety.
The first incident of the match came on 9 minutes as an innocuous tackle on Warren Feeney resulted in him having to go off after Barras had conceded a corner. Hayter came on for Feeney, but the resulting corner did not challenge the Notts goal and Barras easily knocked it out for a thrown in.
Notts first effort on goal came in the 11th minute when a run from David McGoldrick beat the defender, his pass found Heffernan in the area, but his shot wasn’t powerful and keeper Moss made a comfortable save.
Pipe fouled Carl Fletcher 28 yards out, but his free kick hit the wall.
Stuart Garden then performed heroics to deny Browning after Steve Fletcher had flicked on a Cummings free kick into the 6 yards area in the 22nd minute.
Fletcher then passed to Jorgenson, who squared it for Elliott, but his shot was well wide of the mark.
Paul Heffernan was pushed in the 31st minute, but the ref allowed play to continue as McGoldrick got the ball halfway in the Bournemouth half, he advanced, showing maturity beyond his 16years, then shot from 20 yards, but Moss got to it and parried it out for a throw in.
Pipe’s long ball up field found McGoldrick again, albeit offside two minutes later.
Another nifty move by Fletcher and Jorgenson found Purchess, but his shot was high, wide and over the non-existent ground.
The last attack of the rather dull half fell to Bournemouth as Fletcher jinxed past Barras and chipped the ball into the area for Hayter who’s header was just wide of a stranded Stuart Garden.
Half Time: Bournemouth 0-0 Notts County
The second half began as the first one ended, with neither team taking control.
A Fenton free-kick, after a foul on Heffernan in the centre circle, tried to find Heffernan, but he was beaten in the air by Buxton, it fell for Boertien, who’s chip found Scully, but he couldn’t get past his defender.
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The corner taken by Hayter was a good one, but it missed everyone until Pipe chased it to start a counter attack.
His Long ball found Heffernan, who passed to McGoldrick who then found McHugh, who rolled it to Bolland, who passed back to McHugh who flicked it on for Heffernan, who managed to get his shot in, but Moss was there to prevent him again.
Heffernan, now a major influenece in the game, had two more half chances but both came to nothing.
Bournemouth made their second substitution on 67 minutes when Mayer came on for the injured Broadhurst, which was bad news for Notts as Heffernan was starting to get the better of the centre half.
Pipe then found Parkinson on 70 minutes, who knocked it on for Heffernan, on the edge of the centre circle, Heff played a one-two with Scully, but his first touch was too strong and Moss came out to collect it.
Ian Baraclough then came on for Tony Scully- who had a had a very quiet debut- in the 72nd minute.
Almost immediately Bara was called into action as Notts won a corner, his in-swinging corner was a bit too hard, but a move involving McGoldrick, Heffernan and Pipe eventually involved in a chance for Fenton, but the centre back was penalised for a push on Cummins.
Pipe mis-controlled the ball in the 80th minute and almost let in Broadhurst, but his shot went over the bar.
Almost immediately after Bournemouth made their third and final substitution, Holmes on for Elliott, good work by Bolland let in Heffernan, who’s shot/cross beat the keeper, but agonisingly struck the bar.
Straight from Moss’ goal kick Bournemouth were away and his ball found Cummings, who’s lob found Fletcher, who passed to HAYTER in the 18 yard box and he drove into the back of Stuart Garden’s net in the 83rd minute to give the Cherries an un-deserved lead.
Gary Mills decided to make his second change of the match, taking off McGoldrick- who had an excellent full debut, but had run himself into the ground- for Shaun Harrad.
Notts were again dejected after conceding another late goal, but Mills was still urging his side forward in search of an equaliser, and also got it after a good work by Bolland found him-self in space 20 yards out, but his shot was just wide, crashing into the side netting on 88 minutes.
Notts still had time to mount another attack as Harrad forced Moss to make one last good save as he was charging down the on-coming striker.
Moss barley had time to get back to his goal line after his clearance had found Pipe as the referee blew the whistle for full time, and condemned Notts to be in even deeper relegation woe, eight points adrift.
Full time: AFC Bournemouth 1-0 Notts County
Another defeat for the Magpies, who again lacked a cutting edge upfront. Surely now we must resign ourselves to trips to Scunthorpe and York next season.