BOSS Kevin Bond admitted Cherries had lacked punch as they succumbed to a first League Two defeat of the season.

Ryan Harley bagged the only goal of a sterile affair as Cherries went down 1-0 at the hands of newly-promoted Exeter City on Saturday.

Bond told the Daily Echo: "It wasn't ideal having to make three changes because we had to change the shape and the personnel.

"Given what we've got and knowing they can pass the ball around, I went with a formation that I thought worked well for us in the first half.

"We had good possession in the final third but either our final ball or a little bit of guile were missing and nothing broke for us.

"I wasn't unhappy with the first half but, in the second, I thought we played too many long balls instead of trying to mix it up. I suppose you are more inclined to do that when you go a goal behind so that was a problem as well.

"They looked a bit edgy at times and didn't play with the freedom I'd like them to play with. But you have to be strong. Courage comes in many forms and I think you have to be prepared to play and we didn't play enough at times. We just lumped it in the end.

"I thought it was an horrendous decision not to give us a free kick for a high tackle on Danny Hollands in the lead-up to the goal. Then, it looked like they found the net too easily."

Meanwhile, defender Scott Guyett limped off after 57 minutes with a hamstring injury and could be a doubt for Cherries' trip to Port Vale.