ALAN Connell’s talented team tasted victory at Portman Road in a 2-1 victory over Ipswich Town.

Jonny Stuttle broke the deadlock after thirty-five minutes, the powerful forward riding several challenges before arrowing his strike into the bottom corner.

The Cherries doubled their advantage eight minutes after half time, with their high pressing nature forcing a mistake at the back. Toure Williams latching onto a mis-placed pass, tucking the ball beyond Slicker in the Ipswich goal.

Ipswich pegged Bournemouth back on the hour mark. Rio Dodnie-Morgan ruining Callan McKenna’s clean sheet with a tidy finish. That goal would not prove enough to spur the Tractor Boys on to an equaliser.

Connell made just the one change from his side that put three past Millwall last week, Jonny Stuttle making his return to the squad in place of Kian Tydeman, who dropped to the bench.

Ipswich’s team news would reveal that Cieran Slicker would start in goal for the Suffolk side. Slicker has recently received his first call up to the Scottish senior side.

The hosts controlled large spells of the first half. Matching Bournemouth’s ethos of high pressing and intensity, with no fear of being brave playing out from the back.

Ipswich crafted their first chance just seven minutes in, when Tudor Mendel-Idowu let fly from the edge of the area. Cherries skipper Max Kinsey was there with the block, but very nearly turned it into the back of his own net.

Mendel-Idowu would cause the Bournemouth defence further issues moments later, when Ashley Boatswain nodded down into the path of Mendel-Idowu, but his ranging effort flew wide of McKenna in the Cherries goal.

Bournemouth would have to wait eighteen minutes for their first opportunity. Ashley Clarke was the creator, weaving his way in from the left flank. The youngster unleashing a rasping effort, unfortunately for Clarke, Stuttle couldn’t get out of the way in time and accidentally blocked the strike.

Harold William would be called into action as Boatswain was threaded through down the right side. Bournemouth’s young centre back came crashing in to stop Boatswain in his tracks, preventing a potentially dangerous goalscoring opportunity.

It would be Bournemouth that struck first in this clash. Jonny Stuttle picked the ball up and drove towards the edge of the box, drifting in from the right. Stuttle rode several Ipswich challenges, tremendously staying on his feet.

This strong run culminating in a pin-point effort from the edge of the box, rolling into the bottom right corner to give Alan Connell’s side the advantage.

Following Stuttle’s opener, Bournemouth went into the break with a one goal advantage.

Bournemouth looked to carry over their momentum into the second period. Going long from kick off to find Ashley Clarke. Clarke must have taken inspiration from Antoine Semenyo with a silky first touch, before beating his man on the byline. However, his tight-angled shot was saved before eventually being cleared.

Ipswich made just the singular change at the break, with Ayyuba Jambang replacing Edwin Agbaje. Jambang nearly had himself the dream start, working his way into the box before shooting into the side netting.

Both sides had been pressing intently all game, this eventually paid off for Bournemouth eight minutes into the second half. Ipswich goalkeeper Cieran Slicker being put under immense pressure. The Scot saw his pass intercepted by Toure Williams, who jumped in front of his man. Williams stroked home with composure to double the Cherries’ advantage.

The Tractor Boys would pull one back on the hour mark. Rio Dodnie-Morgan guiding the ball beyond McKenna following some brilliant footwork from Mathaeus Roberts who claimed the assist.

Both sides would make a double change following Dodnie-Morgan’s goal. For the hosts, Tommy Taylor and Oliver Davis replacing Ashley Boatswain and Mathaeus Roberts respectively. Alan Connell made his maiden changes, bringing on Kian Tydeman and Koby Mottoh for Ashley Clarke and Karlos Gregory.

Just moments after scoring, Dodnie-Morgan nearly doubled his tally, cutting in from the left and unleashing a rifling effort which nestled narrowly into the side netting from range.

Ipswich captain Jokubas Mazionis would be shown a yellow for his challenge on Max Kinsey inside the Bournemouth box just prior to the seventy-minute mark.

Kinsey’s day would be ended there, Archie Harris took the armband with Malcom Dacosta-Gonzalez being Kinsey’s replacement.

Bournemouth withstood vast amounts of pressure from Ipswich, who were pushing for their much sought-after equaliser.

However, the Town pressure would be relived following Mazionis’ dismissal. The Ipswich captain receiving his second yellow card following a challenge on Stuttle.

This killed the momentum that the hosts were building. Allowing Bournemouth to grab a foothold in the game once more. Koby Mottoh saw his far post striker blocked away after a pinpoint cross from Archie Harris.

Bournemouth made their final change of the evening with Alfie Merritt replacing Toure Williams.

Alan Connell switched to a back five with the six minutes of additional time ticking away, this tactical switch sealing the back door, and sealing all three points for his side.

Following what was an exhausting effort from the young Cherries in the final fifteen minutes in front of the 298 in attendance, the referee brought the game to a close.

Goals from Jonny Stuttle and Toure Williams meaning Bournemouth move to within two points of Cardiff City, who overtook league leaders Charlton following their victory over Bristol City earlier in the afternoon.

Ipswich Town: 1, C. Slicker; 2, E. Agbaje (Ayyuva Jambang 45’); 3, J. Lewis; 4, J. Mazionis; 5, D. O’Connor; 6, S. Turner (Jesse Mwabueze 75’); 7, T. Mendel-Idowu; 8, E. Okonowo; 9, A. Boatswain (Thomas Taylor 61’); 10, M. Roberts (Oliver Davis 61’); 11, R. Dodnie-Morgan.

AFC Bournemouth: 1, C. McKenna; 2, K. Gregory (Koby Mottoh 62’); 3, A. Harris; 4, T. Williams (Alfie Merritt 89’); 5, H. William; 6, M. Kinsey (Malcom Dacosta-Gonzalez 72’); 7, A. Clarke (Kian Tydeman 62’); 8, L. Brown (Alfie Merritt 81’); 9, J. Stuttle; 10, B. Winterburn; 11, R. Rees-Dottin