The damage was done in the first half for Bournemouth, with Stuart Beavon's 20th-minute opener for North End followed by another from Bailey Wright after 31 minutes.
It ended a run of five successive wins for the Cherries and allowed Sheffield United to move on to their shoulder with a 3-0 win over Colchester at Bramall Lane.
Barry Robson's penalty gave the Blades the perfect start after four minutes but they had to wait until the 74th minute for a second goal from Kevin McDonald.
Dave Kitson then rounded things off in the last minute as United made it three wins on the bounce.
Yeovil moved into third place, and level on points with the Blades, with their own 3-0 win over strugglers Scunthorpe.
The Glovers broke the deadlock through Byron Webster's 28th-minute effort, with James Hayter adding a second from the penalty spot after 72 minutes and Paddy Madden rounding things off three minutes later.
Two goals in the last three minutes lifted Hartlepool off the foot of the table as they snatched a 2-1 win at home to Leyton Orient.
Martin Rowland's early penalty looked to be enough for the visitors, but they came unstuck to last-gasp efforts from Peter Hartley and Luke James.
Troubled Portsmouth now prop up the standings as they could only manage a 1-1 draw against Carlisle at Fratton Park.
Pompey trailed to Rory Loy's 52nd-minute strike but Liam Walker rescued a point from the penalty spot.
Bury are five points from safety after slumping to a 2-0 defeat at home to Coventry, Leon Clarke and Carl Baker on the scoresheet for the Sky Blues.
A second-half goal from Yoann Arquin cancelled out Will Grigg's penalty as Notts County shared a 1-1 draw with Walsall.
