CHRIS Maguire’s last-gasp penalty put a dent in Cherries’ automatic promotion hopes as Sheffield Wednesday claimed a dramatic share of the spoils.

Maguire converted from the spot deep into stoppage time after Matt Ritchie’s stunning strike appeared to have won the day for Cherries.

Cherries clawed back Kieran Lee’s first-half opener and forged ahead thanks to second-half goals from Yann Kermorgant and Ritchie.

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Ritchie’s thunderous effort came just minutes after Simon Francis had been sent off for picking up a second booking and before Maguire grabbed Wednesday’s late leveller.

Wednesday’s Southampton loan man Lloyd Isgrove was booked inside the first minute for a foul on Matt Ritchie before Yann Kermorgant’s speculative shot was blocked.

Callum Wilson just failed to make contact with a probing cross from Simon Francis, while the Owls were forced into an early change when Sam Hutchinson limped off following a challenge on Charlie Daniels.

Chris Kirkland nipped in ahead of Ritchie to beat the Cherries winger to Harry Arter’s through ball before the hosts had an escape midway through the first half.

Owls substitute Jacques Maghoma charged down Steve Cook’s attempted clearance and saw his effort parried by Cherries goalkeeper Artur Boruc.

And after the loose ball had fallen invitingly for Kieran Lee, the Wednesday midfielder saw his goalbound effort blocked.

However, there was no reprieve for Cherries when Wednesday opened the scoring through Lee after 36 minutes.

The Owls man arrived at the far post and directed his header from Lewis Buxton’s deep cross past Boruc.

As Cherries looked for a quick response, Kirkland was equal to Arter’s ferocious 35-yarder, the goalkeeper pushing the midfielder’s thunderous drive over the crossbar.

And Boruc also had to be on his toes to save well at his near post after Maghoma had let fly with a right-foot volley on the stroke of half-time.

Cherries appealed in vain for a penalty after Andrew Surman had gone to ground under a challenge from Jeremy Helan deep into first-half stoppage time.

And the final action of the opening period saw Tommy Elphick’s header from a Ritchie corner strike Cook and bounce past the upright.

Kermorgant worked an opening on the edge of the box early in the second half, only to see his shot deflected high over the crossbar.

Cherries had a let-off after 59 minutes when Chris Maguire’s free-kick had Boruc beaten all ends up but struck the post.

And after Caolan Lavery had looked to convert the rebound, the striker somehow contrived to miss with the goal gaping.

Cherries had another spot-kick shout turned down after Wilson had been sent sprawling by Buxton midway through the second half.

Kermorgant finally found a way past Kirkland and headed Cherries level after 69 minutes after guiding Ritchie’s cross past the Owls goalkeeper. The Frenchman’s overhead kick then just cleared the crossbar after substitute Kenwyne Jones had nodded Ritchie’s corner into the mix.

Francis, booked earlier for a foul, received a second yellow card after Maguire had taken a tumble under his challenge nine minutes from time.

Ritchie fired Cherries ahead after 84 minutes, his venomous strike from 25 yards following a Surman free-kick whistling past Kirkland and into the top corner.

Lavery squandered a glorious chance to draw the visitors level when he flicked the ball past the post following a Lee centre as the clock ticked into the 90th minute.

However, the Owls levelled from the penalty spot when Maguire netted after Adam Smith had felled Atdhe Nuhiu deep into added time.

Cherries: Boruc, Francis, Elphick, Cook (Jones, 64), Daniels, Pugh (Smith, 57), Surman, Arter, Ritchie, Kermorgant (Ward, 81), Wilson.

Unused subs: Pitman, Fraser, Gosling, Camp (g/k).

Booked: Cook, Francis.

Sent off: Francis.

Owls: Kirkland, Buxton, Lees, Zayatte (Vermijl, h-t) Helan, Lee, Hutchinson (Maghoma, 15), Melo, Isgrove (Nuhiu, 63), Maguire, Lavery.

Unused subs: May, McCabe, Bus, Westwood (g/k).

Booked: Isgrove, Helan.

Referee: Paul Tierney (Lancashire).

Attendance: 11,280.