CHERRIES were pegged back twice by fellow high-fliers Ipswich and had to settle for a share of the spoils from an absorbing contest at Dean Court.

Yann Kermorgant fired Cherries ahead inside two minutes when his majestic volley gave Ipswich goalkeeper Bartosz Bialkowski no chance.

The Frenchman’s stunning strike – a leading candidate for Cherries’ goal of the season – separated the teams at the break.

However, Town substitute Teddy Bishop equalised five minutes after half-time when he turned a Tyrone Mings cross past Artur Boruc.

But Matt Ritchie kept his nerve after Callum Wilson had picked him out, the winger threading the ball past a couple of defenders on the line to restore Cherries’ lead.

Ipswich fashioned a second equaliser 14 minutes from time when leading goalscorer Daryl Murphy met a Paul Anderson free-kick to register his 11th of the campaign.

Were you at the game? See all of our pictures here.

Cherries were rocked by the loss to injury of strikers Wilson and Tokelo Rantie, the pair suffering hamstring and shoulder injuries, respectively.

Cherries made a flying start when Ritchie’s thunderous strike beat Bialkowski all ends up, only to come crashing back off the crossbar.

But the reprieve was short lived for Ipswich as Kermorgant rifled home the opener after just 110 seconds to give Cherries the lead.

The Frenchman showed great technique after fastening on to Simon Francis’s pinpoint cross, his acrobatic volley whistling past Bialkowski.

Bialkowski prevented the visitors falling further behind after nine minutes when he pulled off an excellent double save.

Firstly, the Polish stopper dived full length to his left to push away Marc Pugh’s low drive before blocking after Ritchie had pounced on the loose ball.

Kevin Bru, hurt during an accidental clash with Pugh, was eventually forced off after 17 minutes and replaced by Bishop.

Francis was well positioned at the near post to divert Christophe Berra’s header past the post before Murphy clipped the top of the crossbar with another header.

Andrew Surman’s diving header from the edge of the box was saved comfortably by Bialkowski before David McGoldrick cashed in on a slip from Steve Cook to create an opening.

But after working his way inside the 18-yard box, the striker’s shot from a tight angle was turned behind by Cherries goalkeeper Boruc.

Boruc distinguished himself from the resultant corner, tipping Berra’s towering header over the crossbar.

On the stroke of half-time, Bialkowski parried Pugh’s stinging volley after a Ritchie free-kick had initially only been half cleared by the Ipswich goalkeeper.

Ipswich levelled five minutes into the second half when Bishop squeezed his effort into the bottom corner after a low cross from Tyrone Mings had found him at the far post.

However, parity lasted fewer than four minutes as Ritchie restored Cherries’ lead when he kept his cool to find the back of the net after Wilson had teed him up.

Rantie, on as a 62nd-minute substitute for Wilson, was sent sprawling by a combination of Luke Chambers and Tommy Smith inside the box but referee Michael Bull deemed there had been no infringement.

Rantie, who was injured in the incident, was eventually stretchered off following a lengthy spell of treatment and replaced by Brett Pitman. The South Africa international was taken to hospital after sustaining what was believed to have been a dislocated shoulder,

Town levelled with 14 minutes remaining when Murphy climbed to meet an Anderson free-kick, the Irishman’s well-directed header flying past Boruc’s outstretched right hand.

As both teams went in search of a winner, McGoldrick fired over for Town before Pugh’s drive flashed past the upright and Pitman’s shot on the turn was blocked.

In stoppage time, Harry Arter fired straight down Bialkowski’s throat after Pitman had headed the ball to him.

Cherries: Boruc, Francis, Cook, Elphick, Daniels, Ritchie, Arter, Surman, Pugh, Kermorgant, Wilson (Rantie, 62, Pitman, 71).

Unused subs: Smith, Stanislas, Gosling, Fraser, Camp (g/k).

Booked: Ritchie, Kermorgant.

Ipswich: Bialkowski, Chambers, Smith, Berra, Mings (Parr, 83), Skuse, Hyam, Bru (Bishop, 17, Sammon, 90), Anderson, McGoldrick, Murphy.

Unused subs: Tabb, Bajner, Henshall, Gerken (g/k).

Booked: Berra, Mings, Hyam.

Referee: Michael Bull (Essex).

Attendance: 11,115 (inc 1,424 away supporters).