DOMINIC Solanke’s late strike rescued a point for Cherries in their Premier League opener with West Ham United.

In Andoni Iraola’s first competitive game as boss, Jarrod Bowen had arrowed the visitors into the lead at Vitality Stadium.

But Cherries rallied, striker Solanke tucking home to earn the hosts a 1-1 draw to get off the mark for the season.

Two summer signings were handed their official Cherries debuts from the start, both at full-back. Milos Kerkez lined up on the left while Max Aarons, who only arrived from Norwich City earlier this week, was thrown straight in.

Fellow new arrivals Justin Kluivert and Andrei Radu were named among the substitutes, while big-money Alex Scott is not yet ready to feature due to a knee problem.

Lewis Cook and Dango Ouattara were also both absent, joining the injury list.

West Ham, who won 4-0 in this fixture last season, made the early running with Pablo Fornals and Bowen both firing wide.

Cherries’ first shot in anger came on 12 minutes. A long ball from Illia Zabarnyi found Solanke, who teed up David Brooks, but he could not find the target.

The hosts survived a big scare soon after. Said Benrahma threaded a ball through for Tomas Soucek in the box, the Czech Republic international firing across goal, his effort coming back off the inside of the post with Neto rooted to the spot.

Aside from that, neither side was able to create too much of note during a drab first half. Alphonse Areola beat away a Brooks strike, while Philip Billing, now known as just Philip, hacked clear off his own goal-line after a dangerous West Ham corner.

Areola was called into action early in the second half, again to deny Brooks. The Wales international back-peddled before unleashing a vicious volley goalwards, which was tipped over the bar.

But it would be the visitors who would break the deadlock. Rothwell was caught in possession trying to bring the ball out from deep, West Ham pouncing with Bowen curling beyond Neto from outside the box.

Cherries looked to hit straight back, Solanke racing onto an Aarons pass down the channel and smashing towards the near post, but Areola made the stop.

Iraola was forced into his first change on the hour mark. Marcos Senesi suffered a clash of heads with Bowen and was replaced by Chris Mepham. The stoppage also saw Kluivert introduced for his debut, in place of the disappointing Jaidon Anthony.

Cherries came agonisingly close to levelling up the contest, Rothwell trying his luck from 20 yards, his effort hitting the crossbar on its way over.

The crowd were up and Iraola turned to his bench again midway through the half, Kieffer Moore brought on.

With 15 minutes to play, James Hill was introduced for his Premier League debut, replacing a tiring Aarons, while Antoine Semenyo was also called upon from the bench.

In response, David Moyes brought former Cherries striker Danny Ings on.

But it would be Cherries’ current number nine who would get himself on the score sheet. Semenyo’s low ball into the box was gathered by Solanke, who skipped around Areola and tapped into the net.

West Ham looked to hit straight back, Mepham producing a vital sliding block to thwart Ings. Moments later Paqueta fired a shot off the post.

Neither side could force a winner during the six minutes of added time as the spoils were shared.

Cherries: Neto; Aarons (Hill, 75), Zabarnyi, Senesi (Mepham, 60), Kerkez; Rothwell, Philip, Christie (Moore, 68); Brooks (Semenyo, 75), Anthony (Kluivert, 60); Solanke.

Unused subs: Greenwood, Kilkenny, Traore, Radu (g/k).

Booked: Mepham.

West Ham: Areola; Coufal, Zouma, Aguerd, Palmieri; Bowen, Soucek, Paqueta (Cornet, 90+4), Benrahma; Fornals (Kehrer, 86); Antonio (Ings, 78).

Unused subs: Johnson, Ogbonna, Coventry, Mubama, Fabianski (g/k), Anang (g/k).

Booked: Bowen, Antonio, Palmieri, Paqueta.

Referee: Peter Bankes.

VAR: Michael Salisbury.