BOURNEMOUTH'S poor away form continued last night as Gillingham recovered in style from a fourth-minute goal by Steve Robinson.

Robinson hit a superb 12-yard volley to give Bournemouth a shock lead as Neil Young's though ball dropped over his shoulder.

It was the Northern Ireland international's fourth goal in the last eight matches.

But Andy Hessenthaler equalised after 11 minutes with his first league goal of the season when Robert Taylor supplied the through ball.

And Hessenthaler turned goal-maker in the 19th minute with a well-weighted through ball that Andy Thomson ran onto to fire just inside a post.

Mark Stein missed a golden chance of an equaliser when he pulled his shot across the face of the Gillingham goal just before the interval.

But Taylor, who has now hit 15 goals in his last 13 games, showed why he recently attracted a £1.5 million bid from Manchester City manager Joe Royle with a double strike at the start of the second half.

After 50 minutes he provided an emphatic header from a right-wing cross and, nine minutes later, Cherries' defence was outpaced down the left and Taylor this time steered the ball home from the resultant low cross.

Gillingham carved more chances than Bournemouth all match but Cherries goalkeeper Mark Ovendale pulled off several good saves.

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