TORQUAY UNITED capped a gritty rearguard action by winning an extraordinary penalty shoot-out 3-0 to knock League One AFC Bournemouth out of the Johnstone's Paint Trophy at Dean Court last night.

Goalkeeper Scott Bevan and his defence – Chris Robertson, Mark Ellis, Guy Branston and Kevin Nicholson were all outstanding – were the stars as Paul Buckle's Gulls continued their outstanding start to the season.

They withstood almost non-stop second-half pressure to send the tie to penalties.

Then, the Cherries' Warren Cummings fired wide, Lee Bradbury hit a post and Bevan saved from Marc Pugh.

For United, Robertson and skipper Nicky Wroe both scored to set up Nicholson for the clinching spot-kick.

United didn't even need their last two kicks!

Cherries boss Eddie Howe made five changes to the team which started last Saturday's 3-3 draw with Notts County.

Former Torquay loanee Danny Hollands in midfield was one of the players brought in, as well as teenage striker Jayden Stockley.

Buckle contented himself with just one change from his chosen XI for the 2-1 win at Port Vale – Eunan O'Kane for Wayne Carlisle in midfield.

And it was soon clear that O'Kane was detailed to play in a free role in midfield, just behind lone striker Elliot Benyon.

Chris Zebroski was switched from a striker to the right wing.

If O'Kane was hoping to find plenty of room, he was disappointed because he was marked man-for-man by Marvin Bartley, playing just in front of Bournemouth's back-four.

United should have taken the lead as early as the fifth minute.

Benyon forced a corner on the right, Kevin Nicholson's delivery was spot-on, but Mark Ellis headed wide with the goal seemingly at his mercy.

Guy Branston came up with two terrific blocks in quick succession, from Hollands and Liam Feeney, as Bournemouth tried to impose themselves on the tie.

And Hollands was not far over with a rasping 22-yard drive after 16 minutes.

But United held the ball well, without creating any clear-cut chances, and kept the Cherries in their own half for long spells.

A strong run by Zebroski in the 24th minute took him past Warren Cummings on the right and in for an angled shot which Shwan Jalal pushed wide of the far post.

Then Lee Mansell found Benyon drawing two defenders, his lay-off was perfect for O'Kane, but he volleyed wide first-time when he might have taken a touch before shooting.

Bevan was called into action in the 34th minute, pushing Harry Arter's shot on the turn wide of his right-hand post.

And when Zebroski tried a trick which didn't come off and lost possession, it ended up with Ellis fouling Hollands just outside United's penalty area moments later.

Bournemouth failed to make the most of the free-kick, Marc Pugh's shot cannoning into the 'wall'.

Benyon didn't quite have the strength to make the most of a couple of promising openings, and his appeals for free-kicks went unheeded by referee Graham Scott.

Bournemouth moved up a gear just before half-time, but Ellis and Branston were in no mood to give anything away, both winning a series of no-nonsense headers and clearances under pressure.

It meant that the first half was in stoppage time before Bournemouth registered their first effort on target – a 20-yard shot which did not concern Bevan unduly.

Howe made his first change at the interval, sending on veteran Lee Bradbury at right-back in place of Stephen Purches.

And Bevan soon had to come up with two saves in a matter of seconds, to keep out shots by Pugh and Arter. He pushed Arter's shot behind, and then cleared Pugh's corner with a strong punch.

United were giving the ball away too easily, and being muscled off it too.

It invited growing home pressure, with Hollands firing a low 25-yarder just wide of Bevan's right-hand post.

The Gulls' goalie might have struggled to cover that one.

United's failure to hold the ball up nearly cost them a goal in the 55th minute.

Benyon was robbed, on an upfield pass by Nicholson, and seconds later Ellis had to throw himself to deflect a goalbound shot by Stockley behind for a corner.

Again Bournemouth failed to make the set-piece count, but the pattern of play was clear – and nearly all in Bevan's direction.

Howe introduced another young striker, Lyle Taylor, for Stockley in the 58th minute.

Arter had another crack on the hour, again narrowly off target.

When O'Kane was tripped just outside the Bournemouth area in the 65th minute, it gave a chance for Mansell to lay a short free-kick sideways for Nicholson to strike.

But he couldn't keep the ball down, and it flew just over Jalal's bar.

It was time for a change for United as well, and Buckle made it a double one with 19 minutes to go.

Moments after Taylor had fired inches over Bevan's bar, Buckle sent on Martin Gritton for Stevens and Billy Kee for Benyon,

O'Kane went to the right wing, Zebroski to the left, with United adopting a 4-4-2 formation.

Bournemouth, still coming on strong, also sent on Anton Robinson for Feeney in midfield.

Bevan came to United's rescue with a top-drawer close-range save from Taylor.

But he could only watch as Pugh's next effort flew wide with United struggling to remain on terms.

Only Bevan's fingertips kept out a lob-volley by Arter as the Cherries poured on the pressure.

United had trouble getting out of their own half.

It was a real relief when they finally broke out in the 80th minute, a Wroe-Gritton move setting up Zebroski for a shot which Jalal just scrambled wide of his left hand post.

The corner-count piled up in Bournemouth's favour – nine in the second half alone – and the defence which had taken United to that record 'clean sheet' run again had to show all that resilience.

Damon Lathrope replaced O'Kane in the 86th minute.

Lathrope went in central midfield, with Mansell moving to the right wing, mainly to counter the threat of Pugh and Arter down Bournemouth's left.

Referee Scott, who had been pretty lenient for the rest of the night, finally booked Gritton and Bradbury for a spot of goalmouth argy-bargy.

The last action of stoppage time was yet another thunderous clearing header by Ellis – he had hardly lost a challenge all night, if any.

TWO GOALS from Jamie Cureton saw Exeter City advance into the second round of the Johnstone's Paint Trophy last night as the Grecians won 3-1 at Yeovil Town.

Andrew Welsh cancelled out Cureton's 10th minute opener with 15 minutes to go, but the City striker fired his side back in front just two minutes later.

Ryan Harley then sealed the win with a free-kick in stoppage time.