A cool Jamie Forrester finish nine minutes from time condemned Cherries to defeat against bottom club Northampton at Sixfields.

Northampton, watched by prospective new owner John Fashanu, enjoyed the better of the second half and Bournemouth's main threat came on the break from James Hayter and Warren Feeney.

Cherries made one change with top scorer Wade Elliott dropping to the bench to enable fit-again Carl Fletcher to return.

Struggling Northampton were the first to show when Eddie Howe was forced to concede an early corner and John Frain's kick was headed on to the roof of the net by Ian Sampson.

The visitors came close to breaking the deadlock in the sixth minute. Hayter's corner was allowed to run by Richard Hughes and John Melligan's low drive from the edge of the area was smothered by Keith Welch in the Cobblers' goal.

Cherries began to find plenty of space in attack. Warren Feeney was denied by the alert Welch and, moments later, Melligan sent the ball over from close range.

Northampton responded well and Paul McGregor tried his luck with an ambitious 40-yard volley, which wasn't far away from its target.

In an open encounter, Steven Purches capitalised on a quick free-kick to break clear of the Northampton defence, but he was well marshalled by marker John Hodge as he closed in on goal.

Cherries again went close in the 27th minute when Hughes sent in a left-foot shot which skidded wide of Welch's left upright.

Sean O'Driscoll's team gradually took control and the dangerous Feeney went close on a number of occasions.

Back came Northampton with a weak header from Darryl Burgess but it was the Northampton goal under most threat.

Jason Tindall fired in a tame effort as the action petered out in a largely featureless first half, but Derek Holmes did go close with a header from an Eddie Howe centre before the whistle was blown. Half-time:

Northampton 0

Bournemouth 0

The lowest gate of the season had little to cheer on the restart, but Northampton topscorer Jamie Forrester felt he should have been awarded a penalty five minutes into the second half.

Forrester raced into the area from a Sam Parkin flick and appeared to be grounded by Stewart, but referee Olivier waved play on.

Karl Broadhurst was booked for holding back Parkin as The Cobblers raised the tempo.

But Cherries hit back on the break and Burgess did well to read the bounce of the ball and rob the onrushing Hayter.

At the other end, McGregor's burst from midfield required Stewart to rescue the situation and Hodge then showed good strength to win the ball just inside the Bournemouth half. He charged down the right flank before flashing a shot wide of Stewart's near post.

The game had now entered a lively phase and both Hayter and Fletcher kept Welch on his toes.

But in general, Northampton looked the more dangerous side and Elliott replaced Broadhurst on the hour as Cherries' boss O'Driscoll looked for a sharper cutting edge.

Both trainers were called upon to race each other across the field as Howe and Parkin clashed heads on the far touchline, but both players were able to continue after treatment.

Feeney had the Cherries fans behind the goal on their feet as his shot drifted agonisingly wide of the post.

Northampton should have taken the lead on 73 minutes but Parkin was guilty of a glaring miss.

Forrester poked the ball into the area, where Stewart's advance stalled Roy Hunter, but the ball looped out to the right, where Parkin completely miscued a volley from eight yards with the goal at his mercy.

But Northampton took the lead in the 81st minute when substitute Marco Gabbiadini headed the ball through to FORRESTER, who scored from close range.

Attendance: 3,909.

See tonight's Pink and Monday's Daily Echo for full match reports and pictures.