Matchday Live: Cherries v Yeovil (From Bournemouth Echo)

4:56pm

Match report and reaction will be on our website shortly. Thanks for following our Matchday Live service and see you again on Saturday.

4:55pm

Well-deserved victory for Cherries. Good attacking display after the break and could have had more than three in the end.

4:52pm

Safety first from captain Tommy Elphick as he smashes a clearance out of the ground.

4:50pm

McQuoid should have made it four moments ago but he appeared to mis-time his jump before heading wide a Francis cross.

4:48pm

Cherries subs on 88 minutes: Hughes for Grabban, McDermott for Pitman.

4:39pm

Shooting practice now as Cherries continue to pile on the pressure.

4:38pm

Pugh cuts inside his man and Stech does well to kick clear his shot. Arter then thumps just over as he goes for a repeat of his goal.

4:37pm

Heavy touch lets down Grabban as he is denied by Stech.

4:33pm

Arter takes a touch before unleashing an unstoppable left-footed rocket into the top corner from 18 yards. Superb strike.

4:32pm

Skilful run from Pugh but his 20-yard shot is comfortably gathered by Stech.

4:31pm

Yeovil go very close to an equaliser as Dominic Blizzard heads Hayter's cross on to the roof of the net. Lively game now.

4:28pm

Non-league goal: Matt Kemble, another former Cherries apprentice, has given Wimborne Town a 3-0 lead at Winchester.

4:27pm

4:25pm

Yeovil sub: Marsh-Brown for Hinds.

4:24pm

Cherries sub: McQuoid on for Fogden. 66 minutes.

4:24pm

Another goalbound effort from Pitman is deflected wide. Cherries well on top in the second half and should have increased their lead.

4:23pm

FIRST-HALF ACTION - LEWIS GRABBAN GOAL CELEBRATION

4:21pm

Non-league goal: Ex-Cherries trainee Micky Hubbard has put Wimborne Town 2-0 up at Winchester City.

4:20pm

FIRST-HALF ACTION - WES FOGDEN

4:19pm

Well-struck shot by Pitman brilliantly saved - and held - by Stech at full stretch.

4:18pm

FIRST-HALF ACTION - HARRY ARTER

4:17pm

Grabban capitalises on a defensive error to go clear on goal. A square pass would have given Pitman an open goal but he opts to shoot and Stech produces a fine block. Big opportunity.

4:15pm

Non-league goal: Poppies 2 Hamworthy Utd 1 (Manuel).

4:11pm

Another wild effort from range by O'Kane.

4:10pm

Yeovil sub: Reid for Williams. 51 minutes.

4:09pm

Cleared to O'Kane who fires way over with his left foot.

4:09pm

Stech out quickly to block Grabban's attempted cross. Corner for Cherries.

4:04pm

The second half is under way.

3:57pm

3:55pm

HALF-TIME VERDICT

The pitch looks in excellent condition but the rain and wind is making life difficult for the teams. Despite that, both have played some admirable stuff in a tight, even first half.

Cherries have just about done enough to warrant their one-goal lead, having offered more of a cutting edge than their visitors.

Lewis Grabban has once again been particularly bright. The quick frontrunner has stretched the Yeovil backline while also providing moments of quality. One of those, his cool finish from 10 yards, is the only difference at the interval.

With Yeovil likely to chase the game after the break, Grabban's pace and willingness to offer an outlet by running in behind, combined with Pitman's clever passing range, could cause major problems on the counter.

3:48pm

3:46pm

One minute of added time.

3:44pm

...after the big build-up, Daniels sees his shot blocked.

3:43pm

Yeovil's Danny Burn booked for a trip on Fogden. Cherries free-kick 20 yards out towards right of the penalty area. Good position for Daniels...

3:35pm

3:35pm

End-to-end stuff now. Cherries escape after James misses a low cross before launching a counter-attack, but Grabban fires wide from Pitman's through ball.

3:33pm

Lewis Grabban converts his 10th goal of the season from 10 yards. Pugh's cutback was behind Pitman but the ball ran perfectly into the path of Grabban to coolly finish.

3:29pm

3:27pm

Nervy moment for Cherries as Yeovil come close. Jamie McAllister's powerful drive is spilled by James as it skips off the slick surface, but the former England star recovers quickly to deny the onrushing Hayter from the rebound.

3:22pm

Pitman fires straight at Marek Stech from 10 yards. Good chance after being found by Grabban's precision cutback.

3:20pm

Harry Arter booked for a foul.

3:19pm

3:19pm

3:16pm

More good play from Cherries almost yields an opening goal. Fogden sees his shot blocked by Danny Burn and O'Kane lashes over with the rebound from 20 yards.

3:15pm

Lovely cross from Charlie Daniels has just too much power on it as Grabban throws himself at it.

3:14pm

Non-league goal - Bournemouth Poppies 1 Hamworthy United 0 (Saadi pen).

3:11pm

Yeovil have started pretty well here. They look bright in possession. Cherries also getting the ball down. Admirable from both teams considering the weather.

3:08pm

Very good chance for Yeovil. Paddy Madden drags wide with his right foot after getting in behind Steve Cook to go clean through on goal.

3:05pm

Pitman feeds Grabban on the right, dangerous low ball across the face of goal cleared. Fogden very close to converting as he slid in. Good from Cherries.

3:03pm

3:01pm

First half now under way...

3:00pm

We'll be keeping you up to date with all our non-league scores as well. Wessex Premier result: Lymington Town 0 New Milton Town 2. Big derby win for struggling Milton.

2:59pm

Nice warm reception for returning hero Hayter.

2:59pm

2:59pm

The teams are out here and we are nearly ready to go.

2:58pm

PRESS BOX PREDICTIONS

Ian Wadley 2-1 Cherries

Paul Mitchell 2-0 Cherries

Neil Meldrum 1-0 Cherries

Graham Nickless 2-1 Cherries

2:56pm

Terrible weather here at Dean Court - cold, windy and heavy rain. Hope the locals have ditched the tea in favour of something stronger in their flasks today.

2:55pm

FORM GUIDE
Cherries are unbeaten in 13 matches since Eddie Howe’s appointment.
Yeovil, the early-season League One pace-setters, have not lost in their past three league games.
Gary Johnson’s men were one of the few teams in action on Saturday and they made the most of it – thumping Oldham 4-1.

PAST SIX LEAGUE MATCHES
Cherries: W W D D W W
Yeovil: W D D L W L

2:48pm

DANGERMAN – JAMES HAYTER
Cherries fans do not need reminding of how clinical Hayter can be in front of goal.
The former Dean Court hero made his name with the Dorset outfit.
A graduate of Cherries’ youth set-up, Hayter scored 94 goals in 358 league appearances for the club.
Hayter, who has netted more than 150 times in his career, left Cherries for Doncaster in summer 2007.
Since joining Yeovil during the close-season, Hayter has been on target nine times.

2:42pm

Cherries expected to line up 4-4-2, with Yeovil likely to match that formation.

2:42pm

Yeovil: Stech, Ayling, Hinds, Webster, Burn, Williams, Blizzard, Upson, McAllister, Hayter, Madden. Subs: Marsh-Brown, Reid, Ugwu, Brundle, Stewart (g/k).

2:41pm

Cherries: James, Francis, Elphick, Cook, Daniels, Fogden, O'Kane, Arter, Pugh, Pitman, Grabban. Subs: Tubbs, McDermott, McQuoid, Fletcher, Hughes, Partington, Jalal (g/k).

2:41pm

PRE-MATCH THOUGHTS – EDDIE HOWE

Howe told the club's official website: “Gary Johnson has been round the block and is a very experienced manager. He will know what to do with the team to get them to be competitive. It is a derby as well, which adds more spice.
“It will be good to see James Hayter back here. Hayts and myself have a lot of history. We came through the youth team together and lived together for a brief time.
“I have followed his career and he has always scored goals wherever he has been. He is one of the best finishers I have seen. Added to that, which sets him apart, is his work-rate, his ability to close down defenders and not give them a minute’s peace.
“We are well aware of his technical ability. He is a very good player who has had a great career and is still scoring goals, so full credit to him.
“Looking at ourselves, the players are raring to go after the disappointment of the game being postponed so late on Saturday. It was very frustrating for everyone, none more so than the supporters, but what is done is done and we will have to go there on a Tuesday night now.
“The Yeovil and Crawley games are huge for us now. We have to look to keep the momentum going and keep our feet on the floor because this is a very important time.”

2:33pm

Cherries boss Eddie Howe has made one change to his starting line-up with midfielder Shaun MacDonald injured. Harry Arter is promoted from the bench.

2:32pm

Afternoon all. We hope you have had a great Christmas and thanks for joining us for this sell-out Boxing Day showdown.