Cherries rarely threatened Torquay goalkeeper Kevin Dearden and O'Connor's 33rd-minute sliced volley summed up the home side's dismal first-half display.

There was another scare for Cherries when Maher and Howe got in a muddle trying to clear their lines and Roach appeared to be felled, but referee Alcock turned a blind eye to the penalty claim.

But in first-half stoppage time, there was no reprieve when Cherries went behind to a thumping 25-yard drive from Graham which flew past Stewart into the top corner of the net.

Among the Avenue Stadium crowd was Southampton boss Stuart Gray and his assistant Mick Wadsworth, although there was little to impress the St Mary's management duo during a dire opening 45 minutes.

Cherries started the second-half much more purposefully, but despite having the lion's share of the posession, they still failed to trouble Dearden.

For the visitors, Brandon dragged a shot wide after 50 minutes before Graham headed a Steve Tully centre just past the post.

O'Driscoll made a triple substitution after 58 minutes and adopted a more attacking system which saw Cherries start to dominate almost immediately.

Feeney struck a free-kick straight at the Torquay wall before good work by Amos Foyewa went to waste when Howe blazed his effort over the bar.

Strong claims for a Cherries penalty went unheeded after Hayter appeared to be pushed over by Martin McNeil after his initial shot had been blocked by the defender.

Willie Huck had a couple of good surging runs down the left and in the 69th minute, his cross was headed wide by Feeney.

Then, after 75 minutes, Huck's corner was headed on to the crossbar by Cherries man-of-the-match Maher.

As Cherries piled forward in search of an equaliser there was always a chance they would get caught on the break and so it proved three minutes from time when Torquay sealed victory.

Substitute Eifion Williams appeared to push Howe as the duo battled for possession, but again referee Alcock allowed play to continue. Williams then squared the ball into the path of Brandon who curled home the second from close range.

Richard Hughes has been named in the Scotland under-21 squad for next month's internationals.