RAMPANT Cherries brushed aside promotion rivals Middlesbrough to return to the top of the Championship courtesy of a Dean Court masterclass.

Eddie Howe’s men again turned on the style in front of the Sky Sports cameras and produced one of their most scintillating first-half displays of the season.

Yann Kermorgant’s 12th-minute penalty, his 14th goal of the season, paved the way for Cherries to strike a potentially telling blow against their fellow high-fliers.

GALLERY: View all of Sal Adams' pictures from Dean Court here

Howe’s team dominated the opening period and the only surprise was that they reached the break with just a one-goal advantage.

However, it quickly became two thanks to Harry Arter’s thunderbolt just three minutes into the second half before substitute Brett Pitman completed the scoring from a 74th-minute penalty.

Kermorgant was restored to the Cherries starting line-up as boss Howe made one change for this lunchtime kick-off, with Pitman dropping to the bench.

Dimi Konstantopoulos scrambled across his line and saved unconvincingly after Kermorgant had tried his luck with a free-kick from 30 yards inside the second minute.

And Cherries appealed in vain for a penalty after Boro defender Ben Gibson appeared to have held back Callum Wilson as he looked to seize on the loose ball.

A swift counter-attack from Boro ended with Adam Reach just failing to connect with Albert Adomah’s cross before Cherries took the lead from the spot.

Wilson, picked out by Harry Arter’s superb pass, made his way into the 18-yard box where he was felled by Tomas Kalas having got the better of the Boro defender.

And although Konstantopoulos guessed correctly and dived to his right, Kermorgant’s venomous spot-kick whistled past him and into the back of the net.

Adomah sliced wide from the edge of the box as Boro went in search of a quick response before Wilson fired off target following some sloppy defending from the visitors.

Kermorgant, who was off balance when he made contact, volleyed well wide following a slick build up involving Arter, Matt Ritchie and Charlie Daniels.

Kalas nipped in front of Wilson to prevent the Cherries striker taking aim after a cross from Simon Francis had found him lurking at the far post.

And as Cherries scented a second goal, Arter’s fierce strike was charged down, while Kermorgant’s shot on the turn was held by Konstantopoulos.

Artur Boruc saved comfortably after Tommy Elphick had sliced a Patrick Bamford centre towards his own goal before Konstantopoulos smothered Ritchie’s drive.

Another effort from Wilson flashed past the post after Kermorgant had flicked on Andrew Surman’s pass before the former Coventry man glanced a cross from Francis wide.

Konstantopoulos pulled off a top-drawer save to keep out Elphick’s near-post header after the Cherries skipper had met Ritchie’s free-kick at the start of the second half.

But the Greek stopper was powerless to stop Cherries doubling their lead through Arter’s stunner just two minutes after the restart. The midfielder, teed up by Marc Pugh, unleashed an unstoppable 20-yard drive which had Konstantopoulos beaten all ends up from the second it left his boot.

A mix up between Kalas and Konstantopoulos almost saw the defender’s header trickle past the goalkeeper before Cherries wasted a chance to extend their lead.

Ritchie, who had the goal at his mercy, contrived to fire his close-range effort over the crossbar after meeting a cut-back from Daniels.

Kike’s headed effort for Boro was ruled out for offside midway through the second period, the substitute nodding Lee Tomlin’s cross past Boruc having strayed past the last defender.

Cherries were awarded a second penalty after Arter had been sent sprawling by Grant Leadbitter following a surging run into the 18-yard box after 74 minutes.

And with Pitman having replaced Kermorgant, the Channel Islander assumed spot-kick duties and confidently rifled into the bottom corner from 12 yards.

Pugh and Pitman both went close to extending Cherries’ lead further with curling efforts just clearing the woodwork in the closing stages.

MATCH FACTS

Cherries: Boruc, Francis, Cook, Elphick, Daniels, Ritchie (Smith, 65), Arter, Surman, Pugh, Wilson (Rantie, 90), Kermorgant (Pitman, 57).

Unused subs: Ward, MacDonald, Fraser, Camp (g/k).

Booked: Arter.

Boro: Konstantopoulos, Nsue (Forshaw, 55), Kalas, Gibson, Friend, Adomah, Clayton (Kike, 55), Leadbitter (Whitehead, 79), Tomlin, Reach, Bamford.

Unused subs: Vossen, Omeruo, Wildschut, Ripley (g/k).

Booked: Clayton, Nsue.

Referee: Anthony Taylor (Cheshire).

Attendance: 10,998 (including 1,345 away supporters).