JUNIOR STANISLAS’S crackerjack 23rd minute strike earned Cherries a 1-0 win over Everton, a result that was full reward for a high-octane performance that completely overwhelmed their hitherto unbeaten visitors.

Although the magnificent Harry Arter was his side’s shining light, every one of Eddie Howe’s players could rightfully claim to have played their part in winning these three points.

And to add an extra coat of gloss to a terrific afternoon for Cherries, Jack Wilshere safely negotiated 76 minutes of action, taking plenty of blows along the course of a typically purposeful display.

An error-strewn, harum-scarum start to the game had its first incident of note in a matter of seconds. Ross Barkley’s awful touch enabled Andrew Surman to nick possession deep into Everton territory. The midfielder swiftly found the overlapping Charlie Daniels, whose inviting left-wing cross was glanced wide of the far-post by Callum Wilson – the striker starting in place of Josh King in the only change to the Cherries side beaten at Manchester City last week.

Jordon Ibe was the next player caught dallying, the attacker cheaply yielding possession to Yannick Bolasie. The former Crystal Palace flyer swapped passes with Romelu Lukaku, before sending a ball flashing across the box that just evaded Lukaku, straining to make up ground in the centre of the box.

Nevertheless, Cherries soon located their customary passing rhythm, albeit they did experience some early joy via a rather more rudimentary approach. Stanislas flicked on an Artur Boruc goal-kick, to find Wilson scurrying in behind Phil Jagileka, only for Maarten Stekelenburg to pounce as the ball momentarily ran away from the striker.

Boruc then produced a stunning point-blank stop to keep his team on equal terms. Lukaku powerfully rose to meet Barkley’s floated free-kick from the left, but Cherries No 1 got down to his right to claw out the Belgian’s goalbound effort. Kevin Mirallas, first to the loose ball, could only fire into a crowd of bodies.

The home team returned to their more conventional attacking approach for their next sortie. Surman collected the ball from his keeper, before shifting play forward to Stanislas. Wilson then took over to square for Wilshere. With time apparently standing still, the England international lifted his shot, via a deflection off a desperately scrambling Seamus Coleman, up onto the crossbar.

Ibe was the next Cherries player to be thwarted by a blue shirt. The winger ran onto Arter’s beautifully weighted forward ball to cut inside and hit a shot that cannoned off Ashley Williams and beyond the far post.

Evidence of the hosts having gained the upper-hand early in the piece came in the shape of Everton boss Ronald Koeman, prowling his technical area, outwardly furious at his side’s inability to either retain possession or get close to their opponents.

And Koeman was soon raging again, when Arter was allowed to breeze his way to the edge of the box, completely unencumbered, and drill a left-foot effort inches past Everton No 1 Stekelenburg’s left-hand post.

The progressively irresistible red and black tide was not going to be held back any longer, however. Moments after the Vitality Stadium let out a collective, concerned sigh, as Wilshere briefly went to ground clutching his ankle, the home team had the lead their energy and enterprise merited.

Arter received a pass from Ibe to crisply feed Stanislas, in oodles of space and with plenty of time to take aim… and how the Cherries man capitalised. The scourge of Everton when he equalised in the final knockings of this fixture last term, Stanislas sent a right-foot shot arcing away from Stekelenburg and into the top left corner of goal.

Gareth Barry promptly had a go at replicating Stanislas’s effort, but the Toffees midfielder’s well-struck drive was touched over by Boruc.

Nevertheless, Cherries weren’t ready to afford their visitors any respite. Ibe’s industry won him a corner that Jagielka made a hash of clearing. But with the ball sharply rearing up towards Daniels, the full back, six-yards from goal, couldn’t react quickly enough to direct his header on target.

And the theme continued immediately after the break. Jagielka’s defensive header on Stanislas’ right-wing free-kick was all height and no distance, tempting Steve Cook to try his luck with a bicycle kick that sped past Stekelenburg’s right-hand post.

There followed a wonderful passage of play on the right, Adam Smith and Stanislas skilfully linking, Cherries matadors to Everton’s bulls. When the ball was eventually worked infield, Arter’s drive at goal was diverted off course by Jagielka.

But the Toffees soon served notice that they would carry a greater attacking threat for the remainder of the afternoon. Idrissa Gueye spread play right for Coleman to land a delivery on the head of Barkley, who guided his finish wide of the right post.

Arter had another long-range dig, this one skipping wide – but Koeman’s introduction of Tom Cleverley and Gerard Deulofeu in quick succession lent the Toffees a more menacing look.

Boruc was at full stretch to palm away a Deulofeu cross, while Cherries had a let-off when the Spaniard overcooked a through ball for Lukaku.

For all Everton’s renewed intent, though, Cherries’ relentless pressing and closing, led by the inspirational Arter, was denying the visitors any clear sight of goal. One sharp move, worked through Barkley, Bolasie Cleverley, Lukaku and finally Bolasie again, did afford the winger a shooting opportunity that he deposited over the bar.

And although Everton seemed to possess neither the wit nor the guile to force an equaliser, Toffees substitute Enner Valencia came close to doing exactly that. The striker darted to the back-post to meet Bolasie’s wicked delivery but, sliding to make contact, Valencia’s effort ran past the post.

There would be no further alarms, nor any argument that the game had its rightful victor, as Cherries took their Premier League points tally up to seven – exactly the same number as they had after the same number of games last season.

Cherries (4-4-1-1): Boruc; A Smith, Francis, Cook, Daniels; Stanislas, Surman, Arter, Ibe (Gradel 70); Wilshere (Gosling 76); Wilson (Afobe 90) Subs not used: Ake, B Smith, Mousset, Federici (gk) Bookings: Daniels, Surman

Everton (4-2-3-1): Stekelenburg; Coleman, Jagielka, Williams, Oviedo; Barry (Cleverley 55), Gueye (Valencia 81); Bolaise, Barkley, Mirallas (Deulofeu 60); Lukaku Subs not used: Lennon, Funes Mori, Holgate, Robles (gk)

Bookings: Gueye, Oviedo

Referee: Bobby Madley (West Yorkshire)

Attendance: 11,291