Full-time: Bournemouth 1  Bristol Rovers 0

Bristol Rovers completed an unwanted hat-trick as they crashed out of a cup competition at the first hurdle for the third time this season.

Both sides finished this FA Cup first round tie with 10 men. Byron Anthony was dismissed for Rovers after a second caution before half-time, while Lee Bradbury followed in the second period, collecting his second yellow after a flare-up with Ryan Green.

Referee Clive Penton issued nine yellow cards and two reds in what was a competitive but far from dirty clash as the Cherries maintained their hoodoo over the Gas.

The south coast club have now won the last five meetings between the teams, including a Johnstone’s Paint Trophy tie earlier in the season.

Bournemouth’s winner came after 76 minutes when defender Jason Pearce rose to head home a cross from Warren Cummings.

The home side could have won by a bigger margin but for some excellent work from keeper Steve Phillips, who made marvellous saves to thwart Bradbury, Joel Ward, and his former Memorial Stadium team-mate Sammy Igoe.

Rovers fought hard to get back into the game over the closing stages, but Bournemouth keeper Shawn Jalal made a vital late stop to deny substitute Darryl Duffy – then rode his luck as he grabbed a long-range Rickie Lambert shot at the second attempt.

At the other end, Phillips made another fine stoppage-time save to foil Danny Hollands.

Bristol Rovers: Phillips, R Green, Hinton, Anthony, Lescott,Disley, Lines, Hughes, Lambert, Kuffour. Subs: M Green, Parrinello, Harwood, Reece, Duffy, Hunt, Klein-Davies.

Bournemouth: Jalal, Guyett, Cooper, Pearce, Bartley, Igoe, Anderton, Pitman, Ward, Bradbury, Cummings. Subs: Hollands, Connell, Lindfield, Pryce, Goulding, McQuoid, Molesley.