CHERRIES limped out of the Johnstone's Paint Trophy as their Sky Sports-televised area quarter-final against MK Dons proved a major turn-off.
Kevin Bond's troops made a low-key exit after two goals in the opening 14 minutes had put Paul Ince's League Two leaders on course for a facile victory.
However, the clash was marred by Mark Wright's first-half horror challenge on Neil Moss, which left the Cherries goalkeeper needing eight stitches.
Wright went in with his studs showing as he looked to intercept a Paul Telfer backpass, leaving Moss with a nasty facial injury.
Moss was eventually carried off following a lengthy spell of treatment, while Wright escaped with nothing more than a booking.
Cherries made a catastrophic start and were left with a mountain to climb after going 2-0 behind inside the opening 14 minutes.
The first came from the penalty spot in the sixth minute after Shaun Cooper had unceremoniously chopped down Dons striker Jemal Johnson.
Cooper's rash challenge gave Keith Andrews the chance to open the scoring and the Dons skipper duly obliged by sending Moss the wrong way from the spot.
And Cherries' misery was compounded when they were caught flat footed after Dean Lewington had hoisted a free kick into the danger zone.
His delivery to the far post was met by a thumping header from Drissa Diallo, his assist falling at the feet of Danny Swailes.
And the defender's half-volley from around 12 yards took a wicked deflection off Cooper and saw the net ripple for a second time.
It could have been curtains for Cherries had Johnson done better after latching on to Kevin Gallen's deep cross after 25 minutes.
But the former Manchester United trainee, who had sneaked in unopposed at the far post, headed tamely into Moss's hands from close range.
Slow-starting Cherries finally began to find their feet and referee Paul Taylor turned down a strong claim for a penalty after Scott Golbourne's cross had struck the hand of Diallo.
Alex Pearce fired into the arms of Dons goalkeeper Willy Gueret after venturing forward for a set-piece in the 35th minute.
And just seconds later, Sam Vokes poked an effort narrowly past the upright following good work down the left by Cooper.
Vokes again went close when he rose at the far post to meet Brett Pitman's probing cross, only to see his header sail wide of the target.
Cherries were rocked when Moss was carried off on the stroke of half-time after the goalkeeper had been caught late by Wright's dreadful challenge.
Moss took a nasty blow to the face as he saved bravely at the midfielder's feet after Wright had tried to intercept Paul Telfer's headed backpass.
His horror challenge infuriated Cherries and their supporters in the North Stand, although referee Taylor inexplicably opted to show Wright only a yellow card.
Cherries, with Gareth Stewart replacing Moss between the sticks, were denied by a couple of heroic blocks at the start of the second half as the Dons were forced to defend in numbers.
But Johnson's dipping 25-yard volley gave Cherries a scare as the Dons countered before both sides made substitutions in the 64th minute.
Josh McQuoid replaced Pitman for Cherries, while ex-Wolves striker Colin Cameron came on for the ineffective Gallen.
As the clash thankfully reached its conclusion, Stewart prevented Johnson from adding a third when he saved low down 10 minutes from time.
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