ALMOST 20 years to the day since the great storm wreaked havoc on southern England, Cherries were blown away by a Welsh whirlwind at Dean Court.

And while the dark clouds will again gather following this latest setback, the fact the margin of victory flattered the Swans will come as cold comfort to Cherries fans.

A fifth home defeat in six leaves Cherries propping up League One and suggests a winter of discontent could be on the horizon.

Kevin Bond's charges gave as good as they got but were made to pay for defensive lapses and a failure to convert their chances, while a curious refereeing display did not help their cause.

In Cherries' defence, Swansea were arguably the best opposition they have faced so far this season, with victory taking the Welshmen into pole position.

But although Ferrie Bodde's stunning free-kick opener may have been unavoidable, gifting 6ft 7ins defender Dennis Lawrence a free header for the second was careless, to say the least.

A dubious penalty, harshly conceded by Lawrence and converted by Lee Bradbury, threw Cherries a lifeline and then it was a case of game on.

But as they pressed for a late leveller, the cracks began to widen at the back, with Marc Wilson's inexplicable handball presenting the Swans with a penalty of their own.

And having netted from the spot, Dean Court old boy Warren Feeney compounded Cherries' woes when he bagged the goal of the game to give the scoreline a rather distorted look.

Cherries had made an enterprising start with Darren Anderton and Bradbury both on the end of decent goalscoring chances inside the opening 10 minutes.

But while Anderton failed to seriously test Dorus De Vries after scuffing his shot, Bradbury's low drive forced the Swans goalkeeper into making a smart reaction save.

The visitors responded with Jason Scotland firing well wide and Bodde seeing his speculative 25-yard effort saved low down by Neil Moss.

Bodde opened the scoring following a quickly-taken free kick, his curling 20-yarder beating Moss all ends up after Wilson had been penalised for a foul on Scotland.

As Cherries went in search of an equaliser, Danny Hollands's left-foot drive fizzed past the post before Wilson headed over from Anderton's 25th-minute corner.

Cherries old boy Feeney went close to grabbing a second when his snapshot flashed narrowly wide after Bodde had picked him out with a delightful crossfield pass.

The Swans doubled their lead in controversial circumstances after 28 minutes when beanpole defender Lawrence pulled off the line to head home Tommy Butler's corner.

However, in the lead-up to the goal, Cherries were convinced Moss had failed to get a touch to Darren Pratley's drive, with the award of the corner hotly disputed by the hosts.

Referee Mick Russell appeared to even things up when he pointed to the penalty spot after Hollands had gone to ground under a challenge by Lawrence.

Hollands was sent sprawling after the two players had chased down Sam Vokes's flick, although the decision looked somewhat harsh on the visitors.

But Bradbury showed them no mercy when he sent De Vries the wrong way from the spot, halving the deficit with his seventh goal of the season.

As an absorbing first half drew to a close, Butler tried his luck from distance after skipping down the left flank, only to see his effort drift wide.

Adam Lallana went mightily close to levelling just seconds after the break when his effort from the edge of the box cleared the crossbar by a matter of inches.

And a confident claim for a penalty fell on deaf ears after Garry Monk had appeared to handle, although linesman Simon Snartt thought otherwise.

Bradbury was denied by De Vries's point-blank save midway through the second half after Hollands's dogged persistence had created the opening.

The midfielder embarked on a run through the centre and fed Bradbury after trading pass with Lallana but De Vries stood tall and saved the day for the Swans.

Moss also came to the rescue after the Swans had mounted a swift counter attack, diving bravely at the feet of Paul Anderson after Feeney's mis-kick had fallen invitingly for him six yards out.

Paul Telfer's crucial headed clearance prevented Feeney from nodding home Anderson's teasing cross, but the reprieve was short lived for Cherries.

Referee Russell spotted a handball by Wilson after Butler had dispatched the resultant corner, allowing Feeney to make it 3-1 with a well-struck penalty.

And after Jason Pearce's header had been pushed past the post, the Northern Ireland international was sent scampering clear by Pratley's through ball to add a fourth.

Feeney's exquisite finish saw him clip the ball over the advancing Moss after he had outstripped Shaun Cooper from just over the halfway line.