FA Cup first qualifying round

Taunton Town 7, Bemerton Heath Harlequins 1

THREE Taunton Town players struck braces as the Peacocks crushed Bemerton Heath Harlequins 7-1 in the FA Cup first qualifying round.

Andrew Neal, Dan Sullivan and Matt Wright each scored twice, with Ollie Chamberlain also on target as the Peacocks got into their stride after a slow start to overpower their youthful Wessex League opponents.

Interim boss Rob Dray named an attacking line-up, with Sullivan in behind a front three of Wright, Neal and Craig Veal, but Town initially struggled to find their rhythm.

Passes were misplaced and very few chances created in an uneventful first 20 minutes, but Neal’s header into the corner after fine work from Nuno Felix down the left opened the floodgates.

A moment of individual brilliance from Sullivan doubled the lead, as he picked the ball up 25 yards from goal and sent a vicious, swerving drive into the top corner, and the same player turned provider for number three as he put a cross on a plate for Chamberlain to head home on 37 minutes.

There was still time for two more before the break, as Sullivan raced on to a Neal flick-on and rounded the goalkeeper to slot home the fourth before Wright blasted home from the spot after being bundled over in the box.

Harlequins stemmed the tide immediately after the restart, forcing Lloyd Irish into his first action of the day as he tipped over a cross-shot from Dan Field.

Taunton had their sixth on the hour, however, as Wright sent a superb header back across goal and into the far corner from Neal’s cros for his second of the afternoon.

The visitors really should have got one back shortly afterwards, but half-time substitute Yankuba Ceesay blasted against the legs of Irish having been played clean through.

Wright spurned a couple of chances to complete his hat-trick before Neal scored Town’s seventh, rifling into the roof of the net with his left foot from an angle.

Sullivan was denied his treble by a fine one-handed save from Matthew Fredericks and Harlequins were then given something to cheer in the final minute when Joe Rawkins fired home a fine consolation goal into the bottom corner from 20 yards.

Overall, however, this was a routine victory for the Peacocks and a financially significant one, with £6,000 in the bank as a result.

Afterwards, interim boss Rob Dray said: "Sometimes it can be difficult playing against sides like this but we were professional.

"I am very pleased with the players’ attitude, they didn’t stop.

"It’s very easy sometimes when you get three or four up in the first half to ease up, but the crucial thing for us is they keep going for 95 minutes.

"We rely a lot on our fitness, pace and intensity and our quality in the final third was very pleasing. Wrighty is devastating when crosses go into the box and all four forwards were very good – there were some great performances out there today."

Dray also handed a debut off the bench to new signing Douglas Camilo, the Brazilian-born midfielder who has finally been granted international clearance.

"It’s been frustrating," he said.

"Andy Power has had an absolute nightmare dealing with various FAs, language barriers, people not replying etc. We are pleased to get him in, so we need to get him fit and give him a chance.

"I think he can play anywhere in the front third. He’s clever, he’s nice on the ball and he doesn’t mind the English physicality.

"He’s a strong boy, he’s played a very good level at home and he’ll be a slow burner. It’s not going to happen for him overnight but he’s a great addition to the squad. 

"We have been a little bit light and we certainly need one or two to beef it up a bit and give us one or two more options."

Taunton Town: Lloyd Irish, Shane White, Nuno Felix, Josh Nelmes, Keith Emmerson, Craig Veal (Douglas Camilo), Ollie Chamberlain, Ryan Brett (Tom Stone), Matt Wright (C), Dan Sullivan, Andrew Neal

Bemerton Heath: Matthew Fredericks, Dan Field, Peter Fletcher, Joe Spratt, Joe Rawkins, Kieran Winman, Liam Greenough (Matt Gunstone-Gray), Jamie Waters (Yankuba Ceesay), Jack Slade, Callum Kitcher (Sam O’Hagan), Tom Moseley

Attendance: 517