The 2003-04 campaign saw a stable return to the Second Division for AFC Bournemouth as The Cherries, fresh from promotion, secured a respectable 9th-place finish under manager Sean O'Driscoll. Leading the charge was the prolific striker James Hayter, whose 14 goals were vital, and whose season was immortalized by a single moment of brilliance. Hayter cemented his legendary status by scoring the fastest Football League hat-trick ever against Wrexham, three goals in an astonishing 140 seconds, a feat his parents famously missed after leaving early for the ferry. It was a solid year of consolidation and record-breaking heroics.. The 2004-05 campaign was a season of soaring ambition and near-miss for Bournemouth as The Cherries finished a competitive 8th in League One, agonizingly missing out on the promotion play-offs by a single point. Leading the charge was the prolific forward James Hayter, whose 19 crucial league goals anchored an attack that scored 77 times under manager Sean O'Driscoll. It was a spirited year that showcased the club's desire to climb the divisions and featured a solid run to the Fourth Round of the FA Cup, cementing its place as a promising, if ultimately frustrating, chapter in their modern history.