IT WAS the best of timing, it was the worst of timing.

No sooner had Steve Cook opened the scoring and wheeled away with outstretched arms in front of the Steve Fletcher Stand, than a World War Two Lancaster bomber swooped low over Dean Court.

One of two airworthy Lancasters remaining, the aircraft provided a glorious, unscripted moment that sent the already sky-high spirits of nearly 8,000 Cherries supporters into orbit.

And the unexpected fly-by might have been their abiding memory of the game had proceedings ended four minutes earlier than they did.

Regrettably for the hosts, substitute Jordan Bowery chose the third minute of second-half stoppage time to rise high and head home a near-post corner from Paul Taylor.

And while a crisply-struck drive from new recruit Andrew Surman forced a flying save from Millers keeper Adam Collin in the remaining three minutes, Bowery had effectively already shredded Cherries’ best-laid plans.

The result extended to four Championship games Cherries’ winless run and left the squad with an altogether different feeling to that which they experienced after securing the same scoreline at Norwich a fortnight ago.

Boss Eddie Howe made three changes from the Carrow Road clash, with striker Yann Kermorgant recalled to the starting line-up as the home side reverted to 4-4-2.

Matt Ritchie replaced Scotland under-21 international Ryan Fraser on the right wing and Marc Pugh was preferred to Junior Stanislas on the opposite flank, while Surman took his place on the bench.

In the Rotherham camp, manager Steve Evans handed debuts to Frazer Richardson, Jonson Clarke-Harris and Norwich loanee Luciano Becchio.

The home side controlled possession in the opening 20 minutes but they could not create the clear opportunities that reflected their superiority.

On several occasions, the final pass was lacking and all Cherries had to show for the opening quarter was a Ritchie half-chance that the visitors smuggled away for a corner.

Simon Francis’ 28th-minute cross was a fraction too high for Kermorgant to make decent contact with and, as the half wore on, Rotherham became more of an attacking threat.

Indeed, the Millers had the most presentable chance of the first period seven minutes before the break.

Richard Smallwood’s deep free-kick from the left was headed back across goal by captain Craig Morgan and, in a crowded penalty area, his fellow centre-back Kari Arnason hooked his half-volley off target.

After the interval, Cherries emerged with an impetus and dynamism that they had lacked in the first 45 minutes.

The home side were convinced they had earned a penalty when Kermorgant was prevented from reaching Pugh’s cross by a bear-hug from Joe Skarz, but referee Graham Horwood was unmoved.

Kermorgant, much improved on recent displays, stabbed a low centre into the six-yard box in the 51st minute but the sliding Callum Wilson got the ball stuck under his feet and Collin was able to snatch it away.

Moments later, Wilson’s luck was out once more when he latched on to Kermorgant’s lifted pass and charged away from an unusually high back four before rattling the left upright with a fierce drive.

However, the opener was not long in coming. Ritchie and Harry Arter combined with a delicate one-two on the right edge of the box and the winger’s floated cross to the back stick was superbly headed in off the upright by Cook who soared above his marker.

Sadly, the floodgates did not open. Ritchie’s 20-yard attempt to double the advantage was saved by Collin before substitutes Alex Revell and Matt Derbyshire began to cause problems at the other end.

Firstly, the imposing Revell chested down for Derbyshire to send an audacious lob over the crossbar and another chance came soon after when Derbyshire’s fizzing cross proved a fraction too far ahead of the former Swindon man.

Brett Pitman, a replacement for Kermorgant who had earlier fallen awkwardly, smashed an effort straight into the body of Morgan with eight minutes remaining.

But when Arnason directed high and wide at the other end, it seemed as if the points were safe.

However, in the third minute of added time, Rotherham earned a disputed corner and Bowery peeled away from Charlie Daniels at the near post to power home Taylor’s delivery.

A late twist in the tale so nearly arrived seconds later when Surman gained space 25 yards out after a one-two with Pitman, but the midfielder’s first-time piledriver was parried to safety by Collin.

MATCH FACTS

Cherries: Camp 6; Francis 7, Elphick 7, Cook 7.5, Daniels 6.5; Ritchie 7 (Surman, 90), Arter 8, O’Kane 6.5, Pugh 7 (Fraser, 83); Kermorgant 7.5 (Pitman, 69), Wilson 6.5. 

Unused subs: Harte, Stanislas, Smith, Flahavan (g/k).

Booked: Fraser.

Millers: Collin; Richardson, Morgan, Arnason, Skarz; Pringle (Derbyshire, 65), Smallwood, Green, Clarke-Harris (Bowery, 55); Taylor, Becchio (Revell, 50). 

Unused subs: Broadfoot, Frecklington, Wordsworth, Loach (g/k).

Booked: Skarz, Smallwood.

Referee: Graham Horwood (Bedfordshire).

Attendance: 8,480 (including 492 away supporters).