Andrew Lloyd Williams reports from Plainmoor

Today's attendance was 3881, with 1118 vocal AFC Bournemouth supporters packed into the Herald Express Away Stand.

There was a promising start as Pitman fired a free kick at Bevan in the first minute. A clever Molesley chip over a sea of bodies in the penalty area with ten minutes gone just evaded the boot of Pitman. Minutes later a Cummings cross found Garry whose header from the penalty spot area flew just past Bevan's right hand post. In a quiet opening, Torquay were slightly on top but the height of Guyett and Garry at centre back for the Cherries was dealing with any danger.

Hearts were in mouths as Shwan Jalal went down injured with 20 minutes gone. The keeper received treatment and soldiered on.

Neither teams were stringing many passes together in a disjointed first half hour.

Ten minutes before half time, Robinson played it to Feeney on the right who played a great ball into the box. With 3 cherries players in the box, Todd headed away. Molesley had a shot blocked from the resulting corner.

Cummings whipped a corner in but it was too close to the goalkeeper Bevan who, at 6"6, leisurely plucked the ball from the air.

The game did not flow very well in the first half to say the least.

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Cherries brought on the big man Steve Fletcher at half time as they looked to compete with Torquay's tall backline.

The visitors brought the game to life as they broke the deadlock in 50 minutes. Feeney was released down the left hand side and crossed for Brett Pitman who lost his marker and glanced a header into the right hand corner of the goal.

Minutes later Feeney played a one-two to get a bit of space near the corner flag and cross. Fletcher guided his header just past the left hand post. On the hour mark Shwan Jalal did well to claim a cross cleanly and send his team on the attack. Bournemouth were all over the home side at the start of the second half. They won several corners as Fletcher and Guyett had them worried in the air.

After Igoe and Nicholson battled each other on the flank, Stevens' shot hit Scott Guyett who had his arms raised for balance but no penalty was awarded and the Cherries escaped. A minute later their luck was up as Chris Todd brought his side level. With 63 minutes gone, a brilliant ball from Stevens on the left found him in the box and Jalal was left with no chance from a bullet header.

As the keeper fumbled an Igoe effort, Guyett followed through and had the ball in the net but the whistle had already blown for a foul.

Good work from Wayne Carlisle on the right hand side looked to have set up an opportunity for Torquay as he ran along the touchline. His dangerous daisycutter was hacked clear by Cummings as the home side began to take control of the game. With 15 minutes to go, Stevens did well down the left hand side and Sills' powerful header bounced off the crossbar.

As Pitman flashed a corner across the face of goal with ten minutes left, Guyett was unfortunate not to connect. Next Igoe hit a hopeful shot which was deflected and had Bevan scrambling across his goal.

With five minutes remaining, Feeney and Pitman attacked down the right and forced a corner.

Just before the final whistle, the ball was played out to the right hand side. Liam Feeney crossed the ball for Steve Fletcher to beat his man and send a bullet header into the bottom right hand corner of the net. The players embraced infront of the jubilant travelling supporters.

Cherries coped well with late pressure from Torquay and secured yet another League Two victory to stay joint top of the league.

Team information:

Goals:

AFC Bournemouth: (50 minutes) Brett Pitman, (88 minutes), Steve Fletcher

Torquay United: (63 minutes) Chris Todd.

Substitutions:

AFC Bournemouth: (45 minutes) 33 Fletcher for 10 Connell, (52 minutes) 6 Bartley for 23 Bradbury, (90 minutes) 14 Hollands for 7 Igoe).

Torquay United: (15 Minutes) 16 Hodges for 23 Charnock, (44 minutes) 12 Thompson for 14 Hargreaves, (88) 10 Rendell for 8 Benyon.

Bookings:

AFC Bournemouth: (46 minutes) Pitman

Torquay United:

The Bournemouth faithful (filling up the away end) were greeted by light drizzle after making the relatively short trip to the English Riviera.

Eddie Howe stuck with the same team that beat Yeovil in midweek. Long-term absentee Hollands was given a place on the bench alongside Joe Partington, who was on the bench for Wales' 2-1 Under-21 victory over Italy last night. Youth keeper Dan Thomas was once again on the bench following the departure of Ryan Pryce this week.

AFC Bournemouth:

1) Shwan Jalal

2) Scott Guyett

3) Ryan Garry (c)

7) Sammy Igoe

8) Anton Robinson

9) Brett Pitman

10) Alan Connell

11) Liam Feeney

20) Mark Molesley

23) Lee Bradbury

28) Warren Cummings

Substitutes: 6) Marvin Bartley, 14) Danny Hollands, 22) Joe Partington, 24) George Webb, 30) Dan Thomas, 33) Steve Fletcher 

Torquay United

1) Scott Bevan

3) Kevin Nicholson

5) Chris Robertson

6) Chris Todd

8) Tom Sills

9) Elliot Benyon

11) Nicky Wroe

14) Chris Hargreaves (c)

15) Wayne Carlisle

19) Danny Stevens

23) Kieran Charnock

Substitutes: 2) Michael Brough, 10) Scott Rendell, 12) Tyrone Thompson, 16) Lee Hodges, 18) Mustapha Carayol, 20) Ben Joyce, 32) Marvin Williams.