CHERRIES star Harry Arter dedicated his wonder goal to stricken skipper Tommy Elphick following the 3-0 win at MK Dons.

The Cherries midfielder completed a convincing victory at stadium:mk on Saturday when he scored a blistering 25-yarder in the 84th minute.

Arter sealed the win after Lewis Grabban and Marc Pugh had struck in a first half which had seen Ryan Lowe sent off for an ugly challenge on Elphick.

Stand-in captain Elphick was forced off just before the interval after Lowe had seen red for jumping into a two-footed lunge on the centre-half.

Elphick was today set for a scan to discover the extent of his knee injury and goal hero Arter told the Daily Echo: “On behalf of the team, I would like to dedicate that win to Tommy because he is on crutches. He has been a great captain for us and my goal was for Tommy.”

Arter joked that he was relieved to see his effort fly into the net - as he feared an earful from boss Eddie Howe for shooting instead of passing.

He said: “If I had missed, the gaffer probably would have had the hump with me! Luckily for me, I caught it right, it went in and it was one of the more pleasing goals I have scored.”

Cherries' latest win, together with defeats for promotion rivals Tranmere, Doncaster and Brentford, saw Howe's men climb to third in League One.

Manager Howe said: “I was really pleased we got the early goal. I think that made a big difference to us and settled us down.

“I was very impressed with the players and how they responded and adapted to the different challenges in front of them. The players were very professional in their approach.”