RYAN Garry grabbed his first goal for more than a year as Cherries ended Carlisle United’s unbeaten League One start at Dean Court today.

The defender paved the way for a deserved victory when he squeezed home a header from Marc Pugh’s corner three minutes into the second half.

And Michael Symes added a second with a coolly-converted penalty after Cherries’ new loan signing Adam Smith had been tripped in the 64th minute.

Cherries went close to taking an early lead when Cumbrians goalkeeper Adam Collin fumbled Pugh’s fizzing effort behind for a corner.

Collin then distinguished himself when he made a top-drawer save to keep out Josh McQuoid’s strike following a well-worked corner.

McQuoid arrived to meet Rhoys Wiggins’s delivery with a crisp shot in the 18th minute, only for Collin to acrobatically tip his drive over the crossbar.

Pugh fired a free-kick over the top before Carlisle fashioned their first shooting chance after 36 minutes when Francois Zoko’s effort whistled past the upright.

Zoko then wasted a good chance to test Cherries goalkeeper Shwan Jalal when he ballooned his shot over the crossbar after seizing on a loose ball just 10 yards from goal.

McQuoid was also profligate when he blazed over the top from close range after Shaun Cooper’s free kick into the danger zone had led to a frantic scramble.

In truth, the opening period was low on goalmouth incident but high on baffling decisions from referee Dave Phillips, whose ambivalent display often left spectators scratching their heads.

However, the second period started in positive fashion for Cherries when Garry headed home Pugh’s 48th-minute corner to give the hosts the lead.

Ironically, referee Phillips played a key role in the goal when a stray pass from a Carlisle player struck him and rolled to Marvin Bartley in the lead up to the corner.

Liam Feeney dragged his shot wide as Cherries went in search of a quick second before Howe’s charges doubled their lead from the penalty spot.

Interval substitute Michael Symes converted confidently from 12 yards after Zoko had felled Smith.

It should have been 3-0 to Cherries when Pugh worked an opening in behind the Cumbrians defence 10 minutes from time, only to shot wide with an angled drive.

Cherries (4-3-3): Jalal; Smith, Garry, Pearce, Wiggins; Bartley, Cooper (Symes, h-t), Robinson; Feeney (Fletcher, 90), McQuoid, Pugh (Cummings, 90).

Unused subs: Arter, Bradbury, Hollands, Stewart (g/k).

Booked: Smith.

Cumbrians: (4-4-2) Collin, Simek, Michalik, Chester, McDaid, Zoko (Robson, 67), Taiwo, Norwood (Marshall, 55), Berrett, Madine, Curran (Price, 67).

Unused subs: Murphy, Kavanagh, Kane, Caig (g/k).

Booked: Norwood, Marshall, Price.

Referee: Dave Phillips (West Sussex).