GOAL KING Josh bounces back from penalty miss

handed the perfect chance to rubberstamp a bright start from the spot.

Sofiane Feghouli pulled back Marc Pugh and up stepped King to put the Cherries ahead.

Or, so we assumed, given Bournemouth had scored all seven of their penalties this term. Yet you would never have guessed it as King miscued wide.

Things then went from bad to worse for the Cherries when the Hammers immediately broke the deadlock.

Feghouli will claim the assist but the goal was all about Michail Antonio’s sharp turn and low shot catching out sluggish Artur Boruc.

But making amends for his earlier gaffe, King flicked a bouncing ball past static Jose Fonte before burying first time on the volley to equalise.

And when Fonte tripped Pugh inside the box after 36 minutes, Bournemouth appeared in charge.

This time King handed penalty duties to fellow striker Afobe but the outcome was the same – with his effort saved by Darren Randolph.

The disappointment around the Vitality Stadium was huge. However, within three second-half minutes that gave way to euphoria.

Steve Cook flicked on a free-kick and there was King, having escaped the offside flag, to fire in from close range.

The Cherries shut up shop thereafter and the ploy seemed to have worked until sub Ayew pounced to make it 2-2 in the 83rd minute.

But Bournemouth rose to the challenge again. And in the final seconds, lethal King capped a remarkable day by completing his hat-trick.

Hammers boss Slaven Bilic, whose troops are 11th on 33 points, refused to accept their season is petering out.

The Croat coach said: “I don’t agree we are just fading away. There are lots of games and points left to play for.”