Report from Tom Crocker:-

The Cherries are out of the Johnstone's Paint Trophy, after a penalty shoot-out defeat at the hands of League Two high flyers Torquay United at Dean Court.

Eddie Howe made five changes to the starting line-up which crumbled in the dying moments against Notts County at the weekend. Michael Symes and Josh McQuoid were both ruled out through injury, leaving the Cherries manager with little room for manoeuvre in terms of who to start up front. Lyle Taylor was available after his debut on Saturday, but Howe decided to hand 16 year old striker Jayden Stockley his first competitive start instead. Harry Arter, Ryan Garry and Danny Hollands all came in with Robinson and Cooper dropping to the bench, whilst Rhoys Wiggins wasn't risked with an ankle injury so Warren Cummings slotted in at left back. Torquay were hoping to end the run of six games without a victory against Bournemouth, since a 4-0 win back in 2002. The visitors only made one change from an impressive win at Port Vale on Saturday, bringing Eunan O'Kane into the midfield for Wayne Carlisle.

The first half was one of frustration for the hosts, as a lot of possession in seemingly dangerous areas came to nothing due to strong defending by a side who have only conceded one league goal all season. Marc Pugh and Danny Hollands both worked opportunities for themselves on the edge of the Gulls box but neither could find the target. Guy Branston was looking solid at the back and seemed to always be in the way of any danger the Cherries tried to impose either with his head or his feet.

Torquay registered the first shot on target of the match for either side. Chris Zebroski broke down the right flank and fired across goal towards the far corner. Fortunately for the home side, Jalal had remained alert for the opening twenty five minutes and was equal to his first real task of the evening.

Bournemouth began to increase the pressure as the half drew to a close with Harry Arter the nearest to breaking the deadlock. After picking the ball up 25 yards from goal, the tricky midfielder twisted and turned his way into a good shooting position, but the finish didn't quite match the run as his left footed effort flashed wide. There were signs that the left flank could be the best way to finding an opening with Warren Cummings' lung busting runs and Marc Pugh's guile posing the biggest threat to an organised back line.

Bournemouth continued the second half as they had finished the first; on the attack. Harry Arter did well to dispossess Mark Ellis before Marc Pugh took up the mantle. The Lancashire-born midfielder made his way instinctively towards goal before stinging the palms of Scott Bevan with a fierce drive, before the visiting keeper also tipped over from Arter's follow-up.

Young striker Jayden Stockley's best opportunity to open his Cherries account came ten minutes into the second half. He latched onto a ball played through by a stretching Harry Arter and smashed his shot goal wards only to see it blocked. This was his last telling contribution as Lyle Taylor replaced him on the hour mark to make his second competitive appearance for Bournemouth after coming on from the bench on Saturday.

Taylor, signed from Isthmian Premier Division club Concord Rangers, had two good chances himself to get on the score sheet. After a fine chipped through ball by Arter, Taylor smashed a left footed effort at goal but there was no real direction in the shot and the chance went begging. Eddie Howe commented on Taylor's performance after the game saying that he thought his new signing was "excellent" when he came on, and he could've capped off his impressive performance with a goal after his initial miss when he later turned his marker before seeing an effort curl wide of the far post.

The Cherries continued to press until the final whistle with a procession of corner kicks. Many different routines were attempted but the closest to a goal came on 72 minutes. After Marc Pugh had weaved his way into the box his shot was saved well by the legs of Bevan and from the resulting corner, Arter attempted an audacious 35 yard lob back over the keeper who had come to punch the set piece. The shot dropped over the goal and that turned out to be one of the last times Bournemouth came close to taking the lead.

Torquay were still looking threatening on the break and after a slip by Ryan Garry, the home crowd held their breath as Martin Gritton got possession. Fortunately Jason Pearce was in close enough attendance for the 32 year old to decide against running towards goal, and instead he went back to Zebroski. Jalal was then to be tested for the first time in the second half as Zebroski cut inside and tried to pick his spot in the bottom corner. Through a number of bodies the Cherries stopper did well to react quickly enough to push the ball away from danger. The visitors were withstanding the pressure of Bournemouth corners and long free kicks. The match was destined for penalties.

The Cherries did in fact beat Torquay in a League Cup penalty shootout in 2004 after a 0-0 draw at Plainmoor, whilst Torquay lost in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy on penalties last year to Southampton. Bournemouth had also appeared to have won the mental battle by being allowed to take the penalties in front of the Steve Fletcher Stand despite protests from Gulls boss Paul Buckle. You wouldn't have known that after watching what proved to be a total of just six spot kicks this time around. Misses by Warren Cummings and Lee Bradbury came either side of a successful penalty by Chris Robertson, meaning Torquay led 1-0 in the shootout with a kick in hand. That kick was duly converted by skipper Nicky Wroe and, after Marc Pugh saw his penalty saved, if Kevin Nicholson could find the back of the net, the showdown would be over as quickly as it possibly could be. The left back smashed the ball past Jalal to send Torquay through to round two. The visiting fans will no doubt feel some sense of revenge after losing to a 95th minute penalty in the corresponding league fixture last season.

Manager Eddie Howe felt his side "should've won it" after "dominating the game" in the second half but it wasn't to be as the Cherries crashed out at the first round stage of the JPT for the first time since 2004.

AFC Bournemouth: Jalal; Purches (Bradbury 45), Garry, Pearce (c), Cummings; Feeney (Robinson 71), Bartley, Hollands, Pugh; Arter, Stockley (Taylor 59)
Subs not used: Cooper, Ings

Torquay United: Bevan; Ellis, Robertson, Branston, Nicholson; Stevens (Gritton 71), Mansell, Wroe (c), O'Kane (Lathrope 86); Benyon (Kee 71), Zebroski
Subs not used: Potter, Charnock