SECOND-half goals from Anton Robinson and Danny Ings saw Cherries put their play-off push well and truly back on track at Notts County this afternoon.

Lee Bradbury’s men climbed back into the top six after an improved second-half performance proved enough to condemn the struggling hosts to a 2-0 defeat.

After County’s star striker Lee Hughes missed a series of excellent opportunities, Cherries took control through Robinson’s powerful and precise header.

Then Ings, impressive and hard-working throughout, sealed the points with a stunning close-range effort.

The margin of victory could have been even greater as the visitors threatened to rub salt into County's wounds late on, but Liam Feeney, Ings and Harry Arter came close without finding the net.

Boss Bradbury made four changes as Cherries looked to return to the top six following a run of seven matches without a win.

Injury-plagued striker Steve Lovell, in his second spell with the club, came in for his first Cherries start since April 24, 1999. Alongside him in attack was young frontman Ings, with Steve Fletcher and Lauri Dalla Valle dropping to the bench.

Marc Pugh, named in the starting XI for all of his previous 43 appearances this season, was among the substitutes, with loan man Donal McDermott taking his place in midfield. Stephen Purches was drafted in at left-back for Warren Cummings.

The clash saw two of the division’s out-of-form teams lock horns. County set an unwanted club record in midweek when they suffered an eighth consecutive defeat while Cherries, without an away victory since their success at Dagenham and Redbridge on February 26, were bidding to halt their dip to boost their play-off hopes.

Despite their recent run, Cherries started reasonably well, with Lovell and Ings looking to link up.

Cherries had the ball in the net early on but Robinson’s flicked effort from a McDermott shot was ruled out, with the midfielder clearly in an offside position.

Purches, having received lengthy treatment following an aerial challenge with Hughes, went close on 21 minutes. But his looping volley after a long throw dropped narrowly wide.

Under bright skies at Meadow Lane, Cherries were enjoying the better of the play in a largely scrappy opening.

Bradbury’s men, utilising playmaker McDermott, tried to open up County with a few passing moves, while the hosts were forced into a more direct approach under pressure from hard-working duo Ings and Lovell.

Hughes headed over from a free-kick before shooting straight at Shwan Jalal after dispossessing Shaun Cooper.

Hughes was showed a yellow card following an aerial duel with Pearce before Cherries missed a golden opportunity to take the lead.

An excellent burst from McDermott created space and his pass released Robinson on the right. The midfielder intelligently picked out Ings but the homegrown striker’s firm shot was miraculously kept out by County stopper Stuart Nelson.

Finishing the half strongly, County went close with two Hughes headers.

Both teams made a substitution at the interval. Creative midfielder Arter replaced injured Purches for Cherries, with Robinson moved to left-back. For the home side, Karl Hawley replaced Febian Brandy in attack.

The Dean Court outfit enjoyed a huge let-off within seven minutes of the restart when Hughes somehow headed over from three yards after his initial effort from a corner was cleared off the line by Arter.

On 58 minutes, it was again the turn of Ings to go close, with Nelson denying the 18-year-old. The livewire frontman sent McDermott clear as Cherries launched a swift counter and having sprinted to meet the midfielder’s incisive through ball, Ings saw his low shot blocked.

A series of incidents forced referee Andy Haines to halt play, with Westcarr and Pearce given a stern word after clashing off the ball.

Assistant manager Steve Fletcher entered the fray before, at the other end, Hughes again managed to miss the target from close range. Presented with an open goal after Jalal parried Hawley’s effort, the County captain could only direct his header high and wide.

And he was made to pay on 67 minutes when Cherries opened the scoring. Robinson was the man in the right place as he arrived 12 yards out to head home Feeney’s pinpoint corner.

Looking for an immediate response, Hughes tested Jalal with a low shot but the Cherries keeper was alter to push away the effort.

The game was put beyond doubt with 13 minutes remaining when Ings got a deserved goal and Cherries’ second.

A clearance from Fletcher turned into an excellent through ball, with Arter scampering unopposed into County territory. He found Ings on the right and, faced with a narrow angle, the teenager thumped home off the underside of the crossbar.

Now firmly in control, Cherries saw Feeney fire over after a neat one-two with Ings.

Nelson again denied Ings before making an exceptional save to keep out Arter’s fine volley as Cherries finished in style.

County: (4-4-2) Nelson; Thompson, Sodje, Edwards (Burgess, 74), Regan; Westcarr, Ravenhill (Wholey, 74), Bishop, Spicer; Hughes, Brandy (Hawley, h-t). Unused subs: Chilvers, Martin, Demba-Nyren, Burch (g/k).

Booked: Hughes

Cherries: (4-4-2) Jalal; Smith, Cooper, Pearce, Purches (Arter, h-t); Feeney, Robinson, Hollands, McDermott; Lovell (Fletcher, 63), Ings (Baudry, 87). Unused subs: Pugh, Dalla Valle, Thomas (g/k).

Booked: McDermott

Referee: Andy Haines (Tyne and Wear)

Attendance: 6,010