RETURNING winger Junior Stanislas ended his injury nightmare by finding the net as Cherries cruised into the third round of the Hampshire Senior Cup.

Carl Fletcher’s side recorded a resounding 8-1 win over Eastleigh with a number of Eddie Howe’s first-team squad gaining match time.

A total of 172 days had passed since Stanislas suffered a serious knee injury during a 2-2 Premier League draw at Watford.

He was named in a Cherries starting XI which also included first-team squad members Marc Pugh, Tyrone Mings and Jack Simpson.

Cherries took the lead on seven minutes.

A slick passing move involving Stanislas and Pugh eventually allowed Mings the opportunity to square for Alex Dobre, who made no mistake in side-footing into the net.

Eastleigh then went in search of a response. Oliver Dennett found space to swing in a cross to the head of James Constable.

But the experienced frontman, who spent the latter stages of the campaign on loan at Poole Town last season, glanced just wide of the target.

Pugh continued to cause havoc down the left flank for the hosts. He beat his full-back before cutting back for Mings, who shot inches wide.

Winger Pugh then struck the bar with a rasping effort after surging into the box moments later.

But he was to get his goal on 21 minutes after capping off another fine passing move to double Cherries’ advantage.

After Stanislas and Dobre combined on the edge of the box, the former calmly rolled the ball to Pugh, who could not miss from inside the area.

On the half-hour mark, the biggest cheer of the night was earned by Stanislas.

He raced on to a through ball from Pugh and smashed into the top corner for 3-0.

Dobre then rattled the woodwork with a curling effort moments before the break.

Six minutes into the second half, Cherries were 4-0 ahead. Keelan O’Connell drilled the ball in for Pugh.

He slid in Dobre, who found the bottom the corner.

Romanian Dobre then squandered the opportunity to seal his hat-trick. After he was dragged down inside the box, he saw the resulting spot-kick saved by Ross Flitney in the Eastleigh goal.

Stanislas was brought off on the hour mark to warm ovation in place of Gavin Kilkenny.

Cherries continued to pile on the pressure and made it 5-0 20 minutes from time. Frank Vincent was allowed space to drill past Flitney.

The National League outfit pulled a goal back however with a moment of magic substitute Lewis Waterfield would not forget. He beat Mark Travers in the home goal with a stunning effort from 20 yards out.

Cherries then responded just a minute later – Vincent rolling the ball home after the hosts had carved open the visiting backline once more.

Pugh then added his second five minutes from time. That came before O’Connell converted the eighth.

Cherries: Travers, Seaman, O’Connell, Jordan, Simpson (Hobson, 78), Mings, Pugh, Ofoborh, Dobre, Stanislas (Kilkenny, 60), Vincent. Unused subs: Boote, Hamilton, Plain (g/k).