IN THE eyes of Jason Pearce, Cherries’ 2011 League One play-off heartbreak marked “the end of an era”.

At the time, little did the club’s inspirational captain realise an agonising exit at the hands of Huddersfield would also herald a new dawn.

No crystal ball could have predicted a rematch between the clubs would take place in the Premier League just seven seasons later.

And while the 2010-11 campaign would ultimately end in disappointment for both Cherries and the Terriers, the rest, as the saying goes, is history.

Pearce quickly established himself as a huge terrace favourite after joining Cherries on the eve of the 2007-08 season following a successful trial spell.

A two-time winner of the prestigious Micky Cave-Daily Echo supporters’ player-of-the-year award, his four years at Dean Court were eventful to say the least.

He experienced the low of relegation in his first season before skippering Cherries during their momentous Greatest Escape campaign when they clawed back a 17-point deficit to preserve their Football League status.

Pearce, handed the armband soon after Eddie Howe had taken the managerial reins, then became the youngest player to captain Cherries to promotion, the 22-year-old playing a starring role as they climbed out of the basement division.

His fourth and final season again ended in dramatic – and controversial – circumstances when Pearce led Cherries into battle against Huddersfield over a two-legged play-off semi-final.

Donal McDermott, on loan from Manchester City, grabbed Cherries a potentially-priceless equaliser as honours finished even at 1-1 in a pulsating opener at Dean Court with Danny Ings seeing his penalty saved by Ian Bennett.

McDermott’s stunning 60th-minute strike cancelled out Kevin Kilbane’s first-half opener to leave the tie delicately poised ahead of the second leg in west Yorkshire four days later.

“Even though we drew, everyone felt we could do the business up there,” said Pearce, recalling the matches in an interview this week with the Daily Echo.

“Huddersfield probably felt it was a good result for them as well but we were confident.”

Cherries’ optimism was well founded.

Steve Lovell’s penalty and a superb individual goal from the striker saw Cherries twice come from behind to level, cancelling out goals from Lee Peltier and Danny Ward and taking the tie into extra-time.

Ings then atoned for his penalty miss in the first leg when his deft header gave them the lead towards the end of the first period.

Antony Kay restored parity for the hosts – who fielded on loan Arsenal youngster Benik Afobe in both matches – before disaster struck for Cherries when Pearce was sent off following a robust challenge on Kilbane.

Their misery was compounded when Liam Feeney and Anton Robinson both missed from the spot during a penalty shoot-out, with Huddersfield going on to face Peterborough in the final at Old Trafford – a game they would lose.

“It was a great experience but you want to come out a winner,” said Pearce. “It was probably a brilliant game to watch for the neutral. It was end to end and I felt we deserved to win in the 90 minutes.

“I still believe to this day that I shouldn’t have been sent off. It was a strong challenge and I won the ball.

“It was a high-stakes game and their player clearly felt it was a bad tackle and went down.

“I have watched it back so many times and still don’t think it is a sending off. Ultimately, maybe it cost us but I couldn’t believe it at the time.

“The boys dug in during extra-time and it was a monumental performance. We were really unlucky not to go through. I remember sitting in the stand watching and it doesn’t bring back good memories.”

Pearce was one of a number of players to leave the club in the summer when he rejoined Portsmouth for a reported fee of £500,000.

“It was a shame it didn’t work out that season,” he said. “We had a good team and a lot of players have gone on to do really well in the game.

“It was such a disappointing end to what had been a brilliant time in my career. I have such good memories and made some really good friends.

“A lot of the players, myself included, felt it was the right time to play in the Championship.

“We were good friends, we had a good mentality and felt it would have been brilliant to do it as a group.

“After the game, everyone was down, no more than me for getting sent off. I apologised to everyone but my team-mates had respect for me and knew I was genuinely going for the ball.

“In a way, it was the end of an era. Although the club was in a good place, it was time for it to regroup and go again.

“Sometimes, I look at it and think that if I had stayed, I could have been part of it. I have watched every move they have made and am delighted for the club and the supporters. What has been achieved has been nothing short of incredible.”

Cherries v Huddersfield at Dean Court: Jalal, Smith, Pearce, Cooper, Wiggins, Feeney, Robinson, Hollands, McDermott (Pugh, 77), Lovell (Fletcher, 89), Ings (Williamson, 89). Unused subs: Purches, Arter, Cummings, Thomas (g/k).

Cherries v Huddersfield at Galpharm Stadium: Jalal, Cooper, Pearce, Smith, Wiggins, Robinson, Feeney, Hollands, McDermott (Pugh, 77), Lovell (Symes, 95), Ings (Baudry, 113). Unused subs: Arter, Cummings, Fletcher, Thomas (g/k).