YEOVIL TOWN 3
Murphy 3, 53, 82
WEYMOUTH 1
Mensah 23
Report: Alife Lumb
The Terras fell to a 3-1 loss to rivals Yeovil Town courtesy of a Rhys Murphy hat trick at Huish Park on Tuesday evening.
Yeovil took the lead in the just the second minute of the game. Josh Neufvilles’ cross from the left was lofted high into the area. Ethan Ross dropped the ball as he appeared to be impeded by Reuban Reid. Rhys Murphy fell into a shot, firing the ball toward an empty net. Despite calls from Ross, the referee gave the goal to the home side.
The glovers came close to doubling the lead in the 6th minute. Albi Skendi’s chipped ball was met by Reid. The striker took the ball to the byline before cutting back to evade Dominic Revan. Reid’s shot with his left foot was parried away well by Ross.
The attacks were relentless. Yeovil had broken the Terras down again in the 18th minute. Murphy flicked the ball through to Skendi. The young Albanian was through on goal but his shot was directly at Ross, as the winger attempted to direct the ball between Ross’ legs, the loanee goalkeeper saw out the danger.
The Terras got back into the game in the 23rd minute. Andy Dallas was brought down, and Sean Shields whipped the resulting free kick into the centre of the area. Jacob Mensah, up from the back, was first to react to the set piece and poked the ball past Adam Smith.
The lead had encouraged Weymouth, and had another chance 4 minutes later to take the lead. Calvin Brooks charged into the area from the right before laying the ball off to Jordan Ngalo. Ngalo snatched at an effort on the turn, but his shot was wide.
Weymouth were pressing slowly, not rushing their attacks. Shield’s corner in the 39th minute was flicked backwards by Brooks. Brennan Camp acrobatically took on a bicycle kick. The ball ricocheted off of the oncoming defender before Camp had a second chance to score. The defender got up and composed a shot which needed to be palmed away at Smith’s near post.
Yeovil took the lead in the 52nd minute. Dickenson’s ball from the left was headed goal wards by Reid. The strikers downward header was parried up onto the bar by Ross. The ball looped off of the woodwork and Murphy bundled the ball into the back of the net.
Stock made a big change in the 59th minute, taking off Ngalo, a defensive midfielder, for Ben Thomson. Changing formation and attacking plan.
Thomson had a chance just 2 minutes after coming on. Robinson’s cross pitch pass found Shields. The winger took a shot on outside of the area but it had deflected into the path of the striker. Thomson could only poke the ball wide for a goal kick.
Murphy was close to his hat trick in the 67th minute. The striker turned neatly to evade defenders. The striker picked out a curling shot with his right foot. Ross got up high to palm the ball away for a corner.
3 minutes later the Terras were hitting back. A long ball up to Thomson allowed the striker to take on his man. He cuts in from the right but his shot, aimed at the near post was scuffed and a comfortable save for Smith.
A minute later Murphy was through and looked set to complete his hat trick. The striker took the ball on the half volley but the ball went way over the bar.
The next substitution for the Terras saw yet another attacking move, with Pierre Fonkeu replacing Camp.
Shields had another attempt from the left wing in the 76th minute, played in by Fonkeu. His shot driven at the near post was wide.
Yeovil got their third and it was Murphy who scored. The forward ran down the right before dispatching the finish past an onrushing Ross to complete the hat trick.
The glovers were looking comfortable and were close to a fourth. Skendi unleashed a shot from the centre of goal aimed at Ross’ right. The ball crashed off of the post. The home side then got the ball in the back of the net before it was ruled out for being offside.
Soon after the referee blew the final whistle, Weymouth losing 3-1.
As Weymouth searched for a consolation, another Shields corner caused chaos in the home box but Leslie-Smith’s effort cannoned off his own teammate and out for a goal-kick to sum up a miserable night for the Terras.
Yeovil Town: A Smith, Bradley, Hunt, Sass-Davies, Dickinson, J Smith, Worthington, Neufville (Knowles 79), Skendi, Murphy (Quigley 85), Reid (Dagnall 68).
Subs not used: Kelly, Lee.
Terras: Ross, Camp (Fonkeu 73), Ngalo (Thomson 58), McCarthy, Leslie-Smith, Robinson, Brooks (Cooke 90+2), Dallas, Mensah, Revan, Shields.
Subs not used: Luque, Murray.
