MARC Pugh grabbed a deserved equaliser as Cherries maintained their impressive start in League One by earning a share of the spoils at the Galpharm Stadium.

Pugh headed home at the far post after Cherries substitute Harry Arter had supplied a delightful assist 11 minutes from time.

Earlier, Eddie Howe’s men had taken the lead when Josh McQuoid netted his fourth goal in three starts to break the deadlock after 32 minutes.

But Antony Kay restored parity with a header on the stroke of half-time before Gary Roberts’s penalty three minutes after the break put the hosts ahead.

Chances were at a premium during the opening stages of the first half, although Cherries enjoyed the better of the possession and controlled proceedings for long periods.

The first noteworthy goalmouth action came after 28 minutes when Town defender Liam Ridehalgh was forced to clear an Anton Robinson header off the line.

McQuoid’s precise finish fired Cherries ahead, the 20-year-old curling a delightful right-foot effort past Town goalkeeper Alex Smithies from just inside the 18-yard box.

The opportunity came about after Marvin Bartley had slipped the ball into McQuoid’s path following a surging run from near the halfway line.

McQuoid went close to doubling Cherries’ lead when he met a Liam Feeney cross at the far post after 36 minutes, only to see his effort bounce wide of the upright.

Huddersfield drew level in first-half stoppage time when Kay rose to powerfully head a Roberts corner past Cherries goalkeeper Shwan Jalal.

And the Terriers edged into a 2-1 lead just after half-time when Roberts netted from the spot after Bartley had been judged to have tripped the Town midfielder.

Alan Lee, a recent £250,000 signing from Crystal Palace, went close to making it 3-1 when he drove Roberts’s cross against the upright after 63 minutes.

And although Cherries thought they had levelled when Robinson headed Pugh’s centre past Smithies, the effort was ruled out for offside.

However, Howe’s charges were rewarded for their endeavours when they hit back to equalise through Pugh 11 minutes from time.

The midfielder was on hand to register his third goal of the season, planting a header past Smithies following an exquisite pass from substitute Harry Arter.

Cherries were thankful to Jalal for saving superbly after Town substitute Lee Novak had taken aim three minutes from time. And although Town piled forward in search of a late winner, Cherries stood firm to claim an excellent point.

Cherries (4-1-4-1): Jalal; Bradbury (Hollands, 64), Garry, Pearce, Wiggins; Cooper (Arter, 73); Feeney (Cummings, 90), Robinson, Bartley, Pugh; McQuoid.

Unused subs: Taylor, Stockley, Ings, Nelson.

Booked: Robinson.

Terriers (4-4-2): Smithies; Peltier, Clarke, McCombe, Ridehalgh; Pilkington (Croft, 76), Gudjonsson, Kay, Roberts; Lee, Rhodes (Novak, 62).

Unused subs: Garner, Johnson, Atkinson, Chippendale, Bennett (g/k).

Booked: Roberts, Clarke.

Referee: Eddie Ilderton (Tyne & Wear).

Attendance: 12,426 (inc 304 away supporters).