Bournemouth 0 Plymouth Argyle 2

Last updated : 26 December 2003 By Footymad Previewer

Plymouth captain Paul Wotton scored a David Beckham style lob and David Norris grabbed another to steer the Second Division leaders to a fitfh sucessive win at Bournemouth.

Wotton chipped Cherries keeper Neil Moss from 40 yards out to keep Plymouth on top of the table.

The veteran midfielder seized on Moss' miss hit clearance before calmly chipping the hapless keeper from the edge of the centre circle.

Wotton could have put Plymouth in front after just two minutes with a 20-yard free-kick which bounced just wide of Moss' left hand post.

But the long serving star made amends for that miss with a sensational opener for his sixth goal of the season.

Bournemouth's misery was compounded when influential captain Carl Fletcher limped off 17 minutes before half-time.

Table-topping Plymouth seized on the home side's disarray when Norris doubled their lead six minutes from the break.

Winger Norris seemed to have been denied by the woodwork when his 20-yard curler rebounded off the crossbar. But Moss was left red faced for a second time when the wind swept the ball back past him and into the net.

Bournemouth piled on the pressure in the second half and were unlucky not to cut the deficit when midfielder Stephen Purches saw his header cleared off the line by Plymouth defender Graham Coughlan 20 minutes after the restart.

James Hayter should have got the home side back in the match just 60 seconds later when he was played into a one on one with Plymouth keeper Luke McCormick. Hayter raced on to striker Steve Fletcher's throughball only to be denied by McCormick who produced a fine save with his legs.

Northern Ireland striker Warren Feeney threatened to cut the deficit again 19 minutes from time when he flashed just wide from 20 yards out.

Marcus Browning came even closer with a 20-yard chip which hit the crossbar soon after but Plymouth and Wotton were not to be denied.