Pitman shuts out storm to slot in No 14

Tuesday 29th December 2009, 2:59PM GMT.

Brett Pitman

JERSEYMAN Brett Pitman has defended himself after being at the centre of football controversy yesterday when he won and scored a 95th- minute penalty to earn Bournemouth a 2-1 home League Two win against Torquay United.

Pitman went to ground following a challenge from Torquay defender Lee Mansell and referee Jarnail Singh, who cautioned a dozen players in the match, awarded a penalty kick.

Torquay players rounded Pitman accusing him of conning the officials, but Torquay manager Paul Buckle and Mansell both refused to condemn the striker, Mansell telling the Bournemouth Daily Echo that if the incident had happened at the other end of the field he would not have complained about it.

Pitman, who had missed his previous two penalty kicks, rolled the ball into a corner for his 14th goal of the season to seal a 2-1 win for the Cherries, who had only equalised in the 84th minute.

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