As the Cherries get ready for their last home game of the season tomorrow, Neil Perrett looks back at the highs and lows of final games at Dean Court of the past 25 years. 

Bournemouth Echo:

20 April 2013 – Cherries 3 Carlisle 1

An eighth successive victory, courtesy of goals from Steve Cook, Harry Arter and Brett Pitman, clinched promotion to the Championship.

Bournemouth Echo:

1 May 2010 – Cherries 4 Port Vale 0

Promoted following the previous week’s win at Burton Albion, it was party time at Dean Court as Cherries brought down the curtain on a memorable campaign.

Bournemouth Echo:

25 April 2009 – Cherries 2 Grimsby 1

Needing victory to secure their Football League status, Cherries were forced to come from behind with Liam Feeney and Steve Fletcher on target as Eddie Howe’s men clawed back a 17-point deficit and pulled off the Greatest Escape.

Bournemouth Echo:

26 April 2008 – Cherries 1 Crewe 0

Although ultimately futile, this victory, a sixth on the trot, kept alive Cherries’ hopes of avoiding the drop to League Two and overcoming a 10-point deduction with Sam Vokes netting the winner in the 55th minute.

Bournemouth Echo:

7 May 2005 – Cherries 2 Hartlepool 2

Needing victory to book a place in the League One play-offs, Cherries twice took the lead through James Hayter but were pegged back on both occasions as Pools pipped them to sixth place.

Bournemouth Echo:

13 April 2002 – Cherries 3 Chesterfield 1

Goals from Derek Holmes and Warren Feeney, coupled with a Wade Elliott penalty, ensured Cherries would take their bid to avoid the drop to the final day, although their fate was sealed at Wrexham.

Bournemouth Echo:

28 April 2001 – Cherries 2 Northampton 0

Strikes from Wade Elliott and Claus Jorgensen, in the final game at the old Dean Court, set up a last-day shot at the play-offs with a 3-3 draw at Reading seeing Cherries agonisingly miss out.

Bournemouth Echo:

8 May 1999 – Cherries 0 Wrexham 0

Having been in the top six since December, this stalemate against a Wrexham team with nothing to play for cost Mel Machin’s Cherries a place in the Division Two play-offs.

Bournemouth Echo:

May 2 1995 – Cherries 3 Shrewsbury 0

Requiring victory to avoid being one of five teams relegated from Division Two, early goals from Steve Robinson (2) and Scott Mean put the finishing touches to the original Great Escape.

Bournemouth Echo:

13 May 1989 – Cherries 0 Plymouth 0

This draw capped Cherries’ best season in the second flight with Harry Redknapp’s men securing a 12th-placed finish. Their three-year stay, however, came to an end following a 1-0 defeat by Leeds at Dean Court in the final game of 1989-90.