DONAL McDermott’s first-half effort was cancelled out by Scunthorpe substitute Garry Thompson as Cherries and the Iron battled out a 1-1 draw at Glanford Park.

McDermott drew first blood for Cherries when he netted with a finely-taken left-foot strike three minutes before half-time.

However, a sustained spell of pressure after the break was rewarded for the hosts when Thompson came off the bench to level eight minutes from time.

Lyle Taylor, one of four changes made by caretaker boss Paul Groves, was in the thick of the action as Cherries made most of the running during the early stages.

The striker, under pressure from Iron defender Cliff Byrne, lifted over a cross from Simon Francis and then repeated the feat following another excellent delivery from his team-mate.

Cherries goalkeeper Shwan Jalal, drafted in for his first league start of the season, had to be on his toes to push Jimmy Ryan’s piledriver over the crossbar as the hosts fashioned their first shooting chance after 20 minutes.

Marc Pugh’s effort was blocked by Ryan following a clever pass from McDermott before Bobby Grant fired wide after being presented with a golden opportunity by Eddie Nolan’s defence-splitting pass.

Taylor’s acrobatic scissors kick flashed past the upright in the 32nd minute before McDermott opened the scoring with a precision finish as the half-time interval approached.

The Dubliner, whose trickery and neat footwork had been a feature of the first half, squeezed a left-foot shot from a tight angle just inside Iron goalkeeper’s Sam Slocombe’s left-hand post.

Long-serving Iron defender Byrne went close to restoring parity when his thunderous drive fizzed past the post at the start of the second half.

And Scunthorpe defender David Mirfin, unmarked on the far post, wasted a gilt-edged chance to level when he contrived to screw his effort wide of the opposite post with the goal gaping.

Efforts from Pugh and Charlie Daniels both warmed the hands of Iron goalkeeper Slocombe as Cherries went in search of a second – but it was the visitors who scored the next goal.

A sweeping move started by Mark Duffy’s crossfield ball to Byrne ended with Iron substitute Thompson arriving at the near post to convert with a right-foot tap in.

Slocombe’s stunning save from Zavon Hines prevented the Cherries substitute from restored the visitors’ lead eight minutes from time, although the Iron pressed hard without success for a winner late on.

Cherries: Jalal, Francis, Addison, Zubar, Daniels, Pugh, Cooper, MacDonald, McDermott (Wakefield, 61), Thomas, Taylor (Hines, 71).

Unused subs: Gregory, Malone, Flahavan (g/k).

Booked: Zubar.

Iron: Slocombe, Nolan, Togwell (Thompson, 67), Mirfin, Byrne, Ryan, Reid, Duffy, Grant, Barcham, Gibbons.

Unused subs: Godden, Hornsey, Jennings, Lillis (g/k).

Booked: Ryan, Byrne.

Referee: Gavin Ward.

Attendance: 4,242 (including 235 away supporters).