CHERRIES missed out on the chance to confirm mathematical safety in the Premier League, throwing away a lead to lose 2-1 at Luton Town.

The goalscoring action at Kenilworth Road was consigned to the second period as Marcus Tavernier’s opener was cancelled out by Jordan Clark’s first-ever Premier League goal.

In the 90th minute Carlton Morris popped up unmarked in the Cherries box to turn home unopposed and snatch all three points.

Cherries made three changes to the side that were 1-0 winners over Crystal Palace last time out, Alex Scott, Dango Ouattara, and Philip Billing making way for Justin Kluivert, Milos Kerkez, and Antoine Semenyo.

Tavernier went very close to opening scores within the first 10 minutes, the winger curling a free kick towards the left onto the stanchion of the Luton goal.

The former Middlesbrough man was involved in Cherries’ next foray forward, slipping in Dominic Solanke with a neat pass.

After the striker ran into a cul-de-sac, Solanke returned the ball to Tavernier, who placed an effort just the wrong side of the post.

Cherries were looking potent on the break.

Lloyd Kelly’s clearance in his own box allowed Cherries to quickly work the ball up the field, flicking through the gears as they approached the other end of the pitch.

The move culminated in a Kluivert effort that arrowed just past the far post.

Kluivert went close again soon after, Antoine Semenyo turning defence into attack as he sprung forward with the ball.

With Tavernier to his right and Kluivert to his left, the Ghanaian opted for the latter, the Dutchman’s effort dipping but over the bar.

At the other end Tahith Chong blasted over a cutback from Luton’s right, Kerkez bypassed with relative ease down the left.

Cherries went close again from a corner, Tavernier’s delivery just evading the head of Semenyo.

A deflection sent the ball goalwards, forcing a save out of Thomas Kaminski, but despite the ball temptingly sitting up during the chaos that followed, Cherries were unable to convert and open scores.

Once again Cherries converted a Luton attack into a counter.

Under pressure Kelly was forced into hooking a clearance upfield, but the defender showed enough patience to turn the kick into an inch-perfect ball over the top for Kluivert.

The following pass required the same precision to find Solanke, the attacker unable to fashion in his frontman teammate.

It was quite telling that neither side managed a shot in target in the first half, but that quickly changed in the second.

Cherries keeper Neto was called into action twice, first at his near post before saving well to deny Carlton Morris after his outfield teammates had cheaply given the ball away.

But it would the away side who would take the lead.

Springing into life from a corner, Kluivert slipped in Tavernier on the edge of the area.

That allowed the winger to take another touch, setting Tavernier up to wrap his foot around the ball and caress into the far corner to open scores.

Unfortunately that would be Tavernier’s final impact on the game, the 25-year-old pulling up shortly after, clutching his hamstring.

Behind but not reeling, the Hatters looked for a response.

They came very close when Morris smacked the post inside the area, the rebound falling to Clark.

The midfielder let fly but his shot only reached the midriff of Adam Smith, who had stooped low to block.

Cherries were not necessarily under the cosh but certainly feeling the pressure.

Eventually it would tell.

Kelly had thwarted the danger substitute Luke Berry carried, stopping the midfielder with a tackle, only for the ball to wriggle through and sit up for Clark.

This time there was no Cherries defender to block his effort, Clark sending the ball into the bottom corner and restoring parity.

With 20 minutes to go, the Kenny was a-rocking as the home crowd demanded a winner.

Luton kept up their pressure without creating clear-cut chances; in the other direction Cherries were unable to muster much of anything.

Once again, Cherries were unable to keep their hosts out.

Substitute Cauley Woodrow flung a cross to the back post, where Morris had wrestled past Zabarnyi to simply stab home and give his side the win.

Luton: Kaminski; Kabore, Mengi, Burke, Hashioka (Berry, 62), Doughty; Barkley, Clark, Townsend Sr (Onyedinma, 62), Chong (Woodrow, 80); Morris.

Unused subs: Ruddock Mpanzu, Johnson, Nelson, Piesold, Krul (g/k), Shea (g/k).

Cherries: Neto; Smith, Zabarnyi, Kelly, Kerkez (Senesi, 87); Cook (Scott, 87), Christie, Kluivert (Billing, 69); Semenyo (Unal, 69), Tavernier (Ouattara, 59), Solanke.

Unused subs: Aarons, Hill, Faivre, Travers (g/k).