United 6
(Morton 7′, Beaumont-Clark 36′, Lo-Everton 43′, 45+3′, 69′, Cooke 90+3′)
AFC Stoneham 1
(Annetts 37”)
United eased into the next round of the FA Cup, following a confident victory over AFC Stoneham.
Callum Morton’s early opener set the stage for success, although a second goal from Jacob Beaumont-Clark was swiftly followed by Tom Annetts’ reply for the visitors. Two goals from Sonny Blu Lo-Everton gave the half-time scoreline a comfortable feel, before the United schemer completed his hat-trick after the break. Cody Cooke added a sixth late on, as Torquay made progression with something to spare.
Torquay boss Jimmy Ball rejigged his squad for the cup tie, with new signing Taylor Scarff joining Tyler Hill, Dan Hayfield, Matt Jay and Morton in the starting eleven, at the expense of Munashe Sundire, Deon Moore, Oludare Olufunwa, Caleb Rogers and the suspended Jake Wannell.
United were ahead after just seven minutes.
The first real attack of the game saw a foray down The Gulls’ right flank prove fruitful, with Morton getting on the end of the delivery to finish confidently and make it 1-0.
Beaumont-Clark produced a moment of magic to fire home from distance to make it 2-0, before Tom Annetts’ goal for Stoneham sparked raucous scenes in the away end.
A couple of promising attacks from the visitors threatened to cause some discomfort for Ball’s men for a brief period following that effort, before Lo-Everton eased any nerves, with two strikes in the dying stages of the first period.
United’s No.10 owed much of his first goal to the contribution of Morton, who had run half the length of Plainmoor before centring for the midfielder to fire a low shot home from the edge of the box.
A corner brought about Sonny’s second, with the former Yeovil man placed perfectly to lash the ball home from inside the box.
4-1 at the change of ends, and a feeling that more goals may be on the way in the second half.
Torquay remained in charge after the restart, although Stoneham’s commitment to minimising any more damage allowed United’s less opportunities to add to their lead.
That they eventually did though, as Lo-Everton chalked up his third.
A through-ball had just a little too much on it for substitute Cooke to profit from it, but with the defender’s interception leaving the ball delivered on a plate to Lo-Everton twelve yards from goal, a cool finish ended with Casey picking the ball out of the net for the fifth time of the afternoon.
A sixth was to follow in injury time, as substitutes Isaac Westendorf and Cooke combined, with the former’s knock-down diverting the ball into the path of Cooke, who only had to stab into an empty net from point-blank range.
A first FA Cup win since 2023 will now doubt cheer the Yellow Army, and we can now finally look forward to participating in the 3rd Round Qualifying draw once again on Monday.
UNITED: 1. Toby Savin 2. Dom Bernard (23. Sean Robertson, 77′), 3. Tyler Hill, 5. Taylor Scarff (6. Munashe Sundire, 56′), 10. Sonny Blu Lo-Everton, 11. Jacob Beaumont-Clark, 15. Kian Jenkins, 20. Dan Hayfield, 22. Tegan Finn (19. Isaac Westendorf, 62′), 27. Matt Jay (24. Caleb Roberts, 62′), 39. Callum Morton (9. Cody Cooke, 62′).
SUBS NOT USED: 13. Zak Baker (GK), 14. Deon Moore.
AFC STONEHAM: 1. Ross Casey, 2. Ryan Cluett (17. Kian Towse, 67′), 4. Mat Bainbridge, 6. Ash Wells (25. Jake Thomson, 67′), 7. Tom Annetts, 9. Tyrrell Sampson (19. Ollie O’Mahoney, 74′) , 11. Duarte Martins (3. Lewis Nagle, 74′), 15. Cade Dyer, 16. Jim Orvis, 22. James Johnson (18. Braydon Douglas,74′), 24. Brad Johnson.
SUBS NOT USED: 13. Callum Lee (GK), 12. Harry Redknapp.
Yellow Card: Bainbridge 41′
Attendance: 1,297
