REFEREE Lee Mason took centre stage as Cherries were held to a 1-1 draw by Championship rivals Cardiff City tonight.

The official controversially ruled out a second-half effort from Callum Wilson after the striker had charged down a kick from Bluebirds goalkeeper Simon Moore.

Wilson stood in front of the stopper as he attempted a drop kick, the ball striking him on the back and then looping on to the crossbar.

Click here to see a photographic gallery from Cherries' 1-1 draw with Cardiff

And although Wilson followed up to roll the loose ball into an unguarded net, Mason deemed he had committed a foul and chalked off the strike.

Harry Arter’s stunning first-half goal gave Cherries a 16th-minute lead before Bruno Ecuele Manga’s bullet header earned the Bluebirds a share of the spoils.

Although Arter’s effort saw Cherries set a new club record for away goals scored in a season, it was scant consolation as they were toppled from the Championship summit.

Cherries made an enterprising start and Wilson carved out the first chance after being picked out by Matt Ritchie’s cross, only to flick his effort past the post.

Howe’s team went mightily close to drawing first blood after six minutes when Marc Pugh embarked on a probing foray into enemy territory after cutting out Matthew Kennedy’s stray pass.

The winger used his silky skills to ride three challenges but, after taking aim from the edge of the box, Pugh saw his rasping drive come back off the crossbar.

And having been quickest to react after the loose ball had bounced in the penalty area, Pugh was also denied from the follow-up when under pressure from a defender.

Cherries goalkeeper Artur Boruc hared off his line to beat Bluebirds striker Alex Revell to a hopeful through ball out of defence as the hosts looked to counter.

Boruc could only parry a speculative low drive from Craig Noone, the Polish stopper deceived as the ball skidded in front of him after rearing off the damp surface.

Morrison’s shot through a crowded goalmouth was blocked following a long throw from Aron Gunnarsson before Boruc clutched Revell’s volley.

Cherries stunned the home crowd when Arter opened the scoring in the 16th minute, the midfielder registering his seventh goal of the season in some style.

Arter unleashed what is fast becoming his trademark – a stunning strike with his left foot – and Moore was powerless to stop it nestling in the top corner.

Drafted in to the Republic of Ireland squad for the first time last week, Arter, who has netted some memorable goals this season, nonchalantly turned away to celebrate with his team-mates.

Arter was unable to repeat the feat having been teed up by Brett Pitman just minutes later, the 25-year-old dragging his effort wide of the target.

Pitman twice went close to adding to Cherries’ lead in quick succession, his first chance cannoning off a defender and going out for a corner.

And after stretching to get on the end of a cross from Simon Francis, the Jerseyman’s exquisite first-time cushioned volley flew narrowly past the upright.

Revell looked to turn home a cross from Noone, only to balloon his effort high over the crossbar, before Cardiff claims for a penalty fell on deaf ears.

A corner to the far post was met by Matt Connolly and the Bluebirds were convinced his shot had been handled by Andrew Surman but referee Mason disagreed.

Much to the amazement of the visitors, the official then failed to point to the spot at the opposite end after Wilson had been upended by Manga.

The Cardiff defender, who featured in the Africa Cup of Nations for Gabon, could probably not believe his luck after appearing to wrestle the Cherries striker to the floor.

Manga then went close to levelling for the hosts when his bullet header from a Peter Whittingham corner was punched away by Boruc before Noone’s curling effort just cleared the crossbar.

Francis came within a whisker of turning a cross from Revell into his own net, with the defender benefitting from a slice of good fortune or displaying perfect judgement.

And as Cardiff continued to ask questions from set-pieces, Manga outjumped the Cherries defence to meet another corner, only to see his thumping header clear the crossbar.

Early in the second half, a timely interception from Fabio Da Silva denied Ritchie a tap-in from Wilson’s low cross before Pitman just failed to connect with a centre from Francis.

Boruc got down smartly to smother a Kenwyne Jones header from Noone’s cross before Cherries again went close to doubling their lead through Wilson.

The striker nipped in at the near post after Charlie Daniels had worked an opening with Pugh but, surrounded by defenders, Wilson could only prod his effort against the base of the upright.

Connolly picked up the first booking of the contest for a foul on Arter midway through the second period, although Cherries wasted the resultant free-kick.

Boruc pouched a long-range strike from Gunnarsson before Cardiff drew level after 62 minutes through Manga.

The defender powered his way through a crowded 18-yard box to meet a Whittingham corner with an unstoppable header from close range which Boruc had no chance of stopping.

Morrison’s heroic block prevented Ritchie’s piledriver from finding a way through before Wilson’s effort was chalked off following a contentious decision from referee Mason.

Wilson initially charged down a kick from goalkeeper Moore with the ball hitting the crossbar and rolling back to the Cherries striker who tapped it into an unguarded net.

However, much to the annoyance of the away team, referee Mason decided to award Cardiff a free-kick and showed Wilson a yellow card.

Manga’s backpass almost trickled past Moore before Yann Kermorgant’s header flew over the crossbar and Wilson nodded inches wide in the closing stages.