Cherries brushed aside in Paint Trophy shootout (From Thisisdorset)

Cherries brushed aside in Paint Trophy shootout

7:00am Wednesday 1st September 2010 in

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CHERRIES suffered penalty shootout heartache at Dean Court as Eddie Howe’s men crashed out of the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy at the first hurdle.

Howe’s men failed to score a single spot-kick as Torquay United prevailed 3-0 despite 90 minutes completely dominated by the hosts.

Howe made an array of changes to the side that drew 3-3 with Notts County on Saturday, with 16-year-old Jayden Stockley coming in for a full debut as a lone striker and Ryan Garry, Danny Hollands, Harry Arter and Warren Cummings all gaining starts. Anton Robinson and Shaun Cooper dropped to the bench.

Cherries started the brighter of the two sides, with both Marc Pugh and Arter crossing dangerously during an opening bossed by Howe’s charges.

Cummings fired wildly over Scott Bevan’s crossbar after latching on to Arter’s square ball five minutes into the tie, while Eunan O’Kane blasted a soaring right-foot drive deep into the Steve Fletcher Stand four minutes later.

Hollands then went close following good work from both Arter and Stockley in the final third, but, despite small periods of possession, neither side looked hugely threatening.

In truth, the first-half action was so limited, it was a case of ‘talk among yourselves’ for BBC Radio Solent’s Paul Scott and John Williams, who were reduced to discussing how far down the alphabet the national team could go following Gulls defender Kevin Nicholson’s England C appearance in the Caribbean recently.

Much had been expected of Paul Buckle’s charges, who had come into this clash boasting the only 100 per cent record in the Football League, but other than one or two surging runs from Chris Zebroski on the right, a break in the deadlock looked far from likely.

A rare Zebroski shot across goal on 28 minutes was easily pushed round the post by Shwan Jalal, while Arter turned well in front of Guy Branston before firing narrowly wide 10 minutes before the break.

Elliot Benyon, under pressure from Garry, had an appeal for a penalty waved away by referee Graham Scott as a forgettable first half drew to a close, but it was Howe’s men who finished the first 45 minutes on top, with Arter’s left-foot effort gathered by Bevan.

The game burst into life just a minute after the restart, however, when Bevan got down well to parry Pugh’s rasping drive. Arter then latched on to the loose ball, only to watch Bevan tip his effort over the bar.

It was a moment of temporary respite from the tedium, however, as the second half quickly deteriorated into the pedestrian nature of the first.

Nicholson’s 64th-minute free kick from the edge of the Cherries box flew into the South Stand as the visitors tried desperately to make a mark on the tie.

Then, at the other end, substitute Lyle Taylor fired over from close range following a neat through ball from the impressive Arter.

Pugh then watched Bevan beat away his close-range drive with his legs moments later as Cherries started to convert their dominance into clear-cut chances.

The lively Taylor then went close with 18 minutes remaining, his curling right-foot shot flashing inches wide of the post.

It was a purple patch that deserved a goal and Arter so nearly provided it 15 minutes from time when his stunning volley from Garry’s looping cross flew agonisingly wide.

Jalal saved well from Zebroski when under pressure from substitute Martin Gritton as the tie entered the final 10 minutes.

But neither side could find a breakthrough and with no extra-time permitted in the league trophy, the tie had to be settled by the lottery of penalty kicks.

Cummings was first to step forward and gave Cherries a nightmare start by skewing his spot-kick past the post.

Chris Robertson then beat Jalal down to his right to put the Gulls 1-0 up, before Lee Bradbury struck the post with Cherries’ second kick.

Nicky Wroe blasted high into the roof of the net with the Gulls’ second, before, unbelievably, Pugh’s right-foot shot was beaten away by Bevan.

That simply left Nicholson to score, which he did with aplomb, to send the visitors through.

Cherries: (4-5-1) Jalal; Purches (Bradbury, h-t), Garry, Pearce, Cummings; Feeney (Robinson, 71), Hollands, Bartley, Arter, Pugh; Stockley (Taylor, 58).

Unused subs: Cooper, Ings.

Booked: Bradbury.

Torquay: (4-4-1-1) Bevan; Robertson, Ellis, Branston, Nicholson; O’Kane (Lathrope, 87), Wroe, Mansell, Stevens (Gritton, 71); Benyon (Kee, 71); Zebroski. Unused subs: Potter, Charnock.

Booked: Gritton.

Referee: Graham Scott (Oxforshire).