September 2023 (Page 5)

Hat-trick hero Rhys Murphy has been named in the Team of the Week for his performance in the 7-1 win over AFC Stoneham at the weekend.

The striker scored a second half treble to secure the Glovers a place in in the next round.

 

A handsome 7-1 win at the weekend so there’s plenty of goals to talk about! Ian is joined by Former Gloverscast Quiz Champion Rob Manley and there’s a Gloverscast debut for Nick May.


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With National League South teams coming into the FA Cup this weekend, this means a lack of league football to talk about. Instead, we’ll give you a quick rundown of any “cupsets” that may have gone down, or teams to keep an eye on when we return to league action.

As you’ll all be well aware, Yeovil set their FA Cup campaign off with a bang, defeating AFC Stoneham 7-1, you can find a match report here! There were also big wins forΒ Maidstone andΒ Torquay United, as they defeated Steyning Town and Wimborne Town respectively on their travels. Bath City had a mountain to climb in a local derby, finding themselves 2-0 down at Larkhall Athletic by half time. They came back to secure their place in the next round with a 3-2 win.

There were a few all-NLS ties, withΒ Dartford andΒ Welling United playing out a 3-2 thriller in favour of Welling, whileΒ WorthingΒ continued their strong start to the season with a 1-0 win atΒ Eastbourne Borough. In the final all-NLS tie,Β Weston-super-mareΒ dealt with a visitingΒ Truro City, coming out 2-0 winners.

And the magic of the cup, is that anyone can beat anyone, and we saw that today, with a few NLS teams falling to lower league opposition.Β Havant & WaterloovilleΒ fell to a 2-1 defeat away to Bracknell Town, whileΒ Chippenham Town were humbled by Hungerford Town, losing 4-1 at home. Finally, Tonbridge AngelsΒ were tripped up on their visit to Haringey Borough, losing 4-2.

Any games ending in draws are scheduled for a replay in the coming days (18/09-19/09), with the 3rd Qualifying Round draw taking place on Monday 18th September (not televised).

 

FA Cup 2nd Qualifying Round results (NLS teams in bold)

Merthyr Town 1-1 Taunton Town
Bracknell Town 2-1 Havant & Waterlooville
Canvey Island 1-1 Braintree Town
Chippenham Town 1-4 Hungerford Town
Dartford 2-3 Welling United
Dover Athletic 3-2 Hastings United
Eastbourne Borough 0-1 Worthing
Haringey Borough 4-2 Tonbridge Angels
Hayes & Yeading United 0-2 Slough Town
Highworth Town 1-3 W*ymouth
King’s Lynn Town 0-0 Aveley
Larkhall Athletic 2-3 Bath City
Leiston 1-2 St Albans City
Royston Town 1-3 Hemel Hempstead Town
Southall 1-2 Hampton & Richmond Borough
Steyning Town 1-4 Maidstone United
Ware 3-3 Chelmsford City
Weston-super-mare 2-0 Truro City
Wimborne Town 0-3 Torquay United
Wingate & Finchley 0-0 Farnborough Town

Yeovil progressed through to the next round of the FA Cup with a 7-1 win over AFC Stoneham yesterday with the gulf in quality clear from the kick off. Here are Ian’s conclusions from Huish Park…

We got the job done professionally. We knew this had the potential to be a banana skin. Mark Cooper described it as a no-win game for his team but I thought it was a job well done by the Glovers. They peppered the AFC Stoneham goal in the first half, kept their opponents at arm’s length and didn’t seem to need third gear. Frank Nouble’s early goal in the second half really killed Stoneham’s chances and Yeovil cruised to the final whistle bagging seven goals.

Michael Smith was impressive. It’s hard to read too much into this performance given the opponents, but Smith made a good first impression. He got forward, he orchestrated, he stepped into centre midfield to try and speed things up through the lines, he picked out passes that others couldn’t and his extra quality was clear. Smith clearly has high standards too, berating his teammates for allowing crosses into the box and urging his teammates to make things happen.

 

Michael Smith, left, celebrates with Rhys Murphy.
Picture courtesy of Mike Kunz.

Rhys Murphy proved a point. Since the switch to the 4-3-3, Rhys Murphy hasn’t had a chance to make an impact through the middle with Frank Nouble’s impressive recent form. He entered the fray yesterday with the bit between his teeth. While some goalscorers seemed apologetic for beat the keeper, Murphy was ruthless and determined to get on the scoresheet. His first was a good move from Smith, to Maguire-Drew, to Stevens, who’s cross into the six-yard box was Murphy’s bread and butter. His second game from him chasing down a loose pass from Stoneham defender to finish from a tight angle and the third was a lovely through ball from Maguire-Drew for Murphy to coolly finish for the match ball.

Jordan Stevens did nothing to quell my excitement. I will caveat this in the same way I did with Michael Smith, but in Jordan Steven’s first start he roasted full backs, he gave us natural width and showed the explosive pace we’ve been waiting for. He started on the left and provided that natural balance to Jordan Young on the opposite side. There’s still a bit of rustiness there but once he gave us a glimpse of what he’s about.

Jordan Stevens.
Picture courtesy of Mike Kunz.

AFC Stoneham deserve enormous credit. Their goalkeeper Callum Lee made some unbelievable saves in the first half and Duarte Martins never gave up and took his goal well. Their supporters were noisy throughout and enjoyed their afternoon at Huish Park. While the score line wasn’t what they would have wanted, the club made the most of the occasion and soaked up the atmosphere at the final whistle with their 208 travelling fans. Best of luck for the rest of the season!

AFC Stoneham supporters (and the Yeovil Press’ Steve Sowden!) celebrate their consolation goal.
Picture courtesy of Mike Kunz.

Yeovil’s hat-trick hero Rhys Murphy says he is ‘desperate to play’ but knows you have wait for your chance with the quality of Mark Cooper’s squad.

Murphy scored three in the second half of Yeovil’s 7-1 win against AFC Stoneham yesterday, completing his hattrick in stoppage time.

Speaking to BBC Somerset’s Tom Seymour following the rout, Murphy said: “Every player wants to play. I’m no different, [I’m] desperate to play. The manager knows that, but we’ve got a good squad so you have to earn the right every week. We’ve got lots of good players here so whoever’s on the pitch at the start of the game is a good player, so you wait for you chance and hopefully today I took mine.”

Murphy credited Jordan Stevens for his cross for the first, was thankful of the gift from Stoneham’s defender and praised Jordan Maguire-Drew for the assist for his third, but said advancing through the cup was the priority.

“We’re through to the next round, that’s the most important thing.”

“All the boys that scored today, everybody played their part, [I’m] disappointed to concede a goal but a thoroughly convincing win at home in front of the fans again, which was good. And we’re through to the next round, that’s the most important thing.”

With a return to National League South action next weekend and just three points from the top, Yeovil will want to keep the pressure and Murphy is relishing the trip to Hampton & Richmond.

“We hope from our point of view that we can take that form into the next game, we’re not on a bad run ourselves. I know its a clichΓ© but you want to win every game you play so this was no different and the next game is no different – so bring on next weekend.”

It’s a little bit of a quieter Loan Watch this midweek.

Firstly an injury update on Malachi Linton and it’s good news! The forward – currently on loan at Taunton – is back in light training after nursing what had been feared to be quite a serious injury.

But, the Gloverscast understands that after seeing multiple specialists, the injury is hoped to not be as bad as first feared and he could be back in action for the Peacocks in around six weeks time.

Those of you with eagle eyes may have spotted him in a the Pre-FA Cup edition of HP Source on Social Media.

Malachi Linton back in training ? HP Source

Right, 

Tiverton – no game, out of the FA Cup, so Lewis Williams was back with the Glovers helping warm up the goalkeepers.

Dorchester – No game, they did play midweek, drew with Hungerford, Ollie Haste wasn’t in the squad, Benjani Jr an unused sub.

But, down at Shepton, we’ve got a striker in form to keep an eye on.

Charlie Bateson, already named Mallet’s Player of the Month for August, was back for his side to today, and back in the goals too.

He bagged one and assisted the other as the Mallet drew 2-2 with Barnstaple Town.

Cannot stop scoring!

 

Yeovil Town Under -18s are off and running for the new season salvaging a point against Fairford Town, to put an end to a run of back-to-back defeats to kick-start the new South West Counties Youth League season.

Played down at Alvington, first half goals from Huzaifa Yousaf and Alec Gawthropp had put the visitors 2-0 up at the break.

But, Alex Stevens was on the double to claw the game back to earn a point. 

The Glovers line-up included Aidan ‘son of’ Skiverton.

The Young Glovers are back in action next Saturday morning when they head to face Bridgwater United  who currently sit top of the table with three wins from three.

Mark Cooper praised AFC Stoneham following the Glovers 7-1 win in the FA Cup this afternoon. Goals from Jordan Young, Jake Wannell, Frank Nouble, Rhys Murphy (x3) and Jordan Maguire-Drew saw Yeovil run out comfortable winners and the boss was pleased that his side scored seven but lamented the Duarte Martin’s consolation goal.

Speaking to BBC Somerset following the victory, Cooper said: “It’s about Stoneham today. It’s their day, it’s about them and how well they’ve done to get the results they’ve had to get to get to this stage.”

Despite the comfortable score line and the dominant performance Cooper was disappointed with the “schoolboy defending” for Stoneham’s goal and felt his side should have scored more.

“We had a job to do, we did it. Like I said, it was a no-win situation for us. But we were professional enough. I’m devastated about the goal we conceded, that should never happen. But, to score seven in any game is obviously pleasing.

“I’m pretty selfish, I thought we could have won by more”

“We started off really well, the keeper made some unbelievable saves in the first few minutes. I’m pretty selfish, I thought we could have won by more. but I’m really angry about the goal we conceded and if that’s a league game we probably concede two or three late on.”

Rhys Murphy earned himself the match ball with a second half hattrick of archetypal Murphy finishes and Cooper was pleased with the contribution of his substitutes.

“The boys that are not playing, when they come on the pitch [they]need to contribute and that’s been the case so far for us this season. Our subs have contributed and they did again today.”

It’s three wins in a row for Yeovil now, and the Glovers face a visit to 21st place Hampton & Richmond Borough next weekend hoping to find the a fourth.

“Whatever level you play at, to win three games on the bounce is hard. It’s hard to win a game of football because there are so many variables. The opposition have 11 players that are trying to stop you so to win three games at any level is good. We’ve got to try and make that four next week.”