CARLING CUP Aug 24 Torquay United 0-0 AFC Bournemouth (3-4 pens) Att: 1876

Last updated : 25 August 2005 By Rob Mann
Bournemouth kicked off with a vastly changed team from Gillingham - no Mossy, Spicer, Eddie or Maher. Eek thought the majority of the away support of about 450!

The 1st half in all honesty was very poor. One chance springs to mind - for Torquay - with Liam Coleman blazing over from about 20 yards when unmarked.

Gareth Stewart deputising for the injured Mossy started the half very nervously, not impressing with his distribution often putting us into trouble. However on the whole the Cherries looked happy to play the ball around in midfield and gel together as a team with all our newcomers finding their feet.

HT: 0-0

The 2nd half was seemingly a one man show against the Cherries with only a great display of goalkeeping from Marriott keeping the Gulls in the game. Time and time again this young Cherries team tore through a wafer thin Torquay defence but chance after chance went astray!

Most memorable events were Hayter being put in by Surman on the 60 minute mark and hitting the post. Minutes later Cooper, having a superb match on the left, put in James again, but once again Marriott saved the header well.

Still the Cherries came. A Torquay defender almost put through his own net but Marriott was not to be beaten. The last action of normal time saw Marriott save again, this time from Steve Fletcher.

FT: 0-0

Extra time it was, although I don’t think anyone could believe we had not won the game. The Cherries seemed to take their foot off the gas, and Torquay seemed quite happy for penalties from this point.

The only real drama of extra time came in the closing minute of the extra half an hour. Neil Young somehow managed to head a long ball over Gareth Stewart leaving Torquay in on an open goal. We all held our breath, but a superb tackle by James O’Connor saved the day!

AET: 0-0

So penalties it was! The Bournemouth support which had been superb for most of the game got even louder as the tension mounted. Torquay won the toss to shoot first and scored. Hayter then converted for us 1-1. The Gulls regained the advantage before a very cool finish from Pitman who had come on as sub made it 2-2. Torquay then had their next kick saved by Stewart much to the delight of the travelling Cherries and Stock put us 3-2 up. 3-3 it went, then 4-3 to the Cherries with Soupa burying his penalty with great delight. Torquay's resistance had finally gone and their 5th penalty sailed over the bar putting the Cherries through to the 2nd round.

Man Of The MatchGareth Stewart. Overcame a shaky start and looked very assured come the 2nd half. Mention also for Josh Gowling in defence - great game!

AFCB: Stewart, Gowling, O'Connor, Young, Cooper, Surman, Stock, Browning, Cooke, Fletcher, Hayter
Subs: Rodrigues, Coutts (on for Gowling, 105), Hart (on for Cooper, 88), Hudson, Pitman (on for Cooke, 115)


Rob Mann, Newton Abbot