TAUNTON TOWN 1

Rice 21

WEYMOUTH 3

Malsom 15, 60, 86

SUPER Sam Malsom netted a hat-trick as Weymouth produced a full blooded performance at Wordsworth Drive last night to advance into the second qualifying round of the FA Cup.

The Terras looked a completely different side to the one that escaped with a replay at the Bob Lucas Stadium on Saturday and could have won by a lot more.

A delighted Brendon King told Echosport: “We battered them. We hit the bar twice and had two efforts cleared off the line, so we could have scored more but to put in a performance like that and come away with a 3-1 win was just fantastic.

“I had a chat to the lads before and showed them their manager’s programme notes, which were not very complimentary about us, and to be honest that was all the motivation we needed.

“I also explained to them how FA Cup games do not come around that often and how it was important they made the most of this second chance.

“I could tell by their eyes before kick-off that they were hungry and the way we knocked the ball around at times was superb.

“We really proved just what we are capable of and hopefully now we can kick on from this and put a decent run together.”

King made just one change to his starting XI with player/assistant manager Matt Groves coming in for Mitch Conning.

The ex-Dorchester Town forward partnered Warren Byerley up front while Malsom began on the right flank.

Taunton lined up the same as they did at the weekend but it was the Terras that made the more positive start and after Scott Dixon and Groves had sent efforts off target, they duly took the lead on 15 minutes.

There appeared to be no danger when Malsom gained possession but within the blink of an eye he cut in from the right and let fly with a wonderful strike from 20 yards that gave keeper Chris Astley no chance.

It was the 23-year-old’s first goal for the club and the travelling fans went wild with delight, clearly satisfied with their side’s endeavour in the opening exchanges.

Unfortunately though, their euphoria did not last long as just six minutes later Town levelled when Darren Rice escaped the attention of Ollie Tribe on the left before slotting past Tom Manley from an acute angle.

Suddenly it was now Taunton’s turn to apply a brief period of pressure but Weymouth stood strong and responded on 28 minutes with a long-range thunderbolt from Stephen Reed that was expertly tipped over the bar by Astley.

The Town stopper then denied Groves from close range, following great work from Richard Marshallsay, before Sam Poole and Ben Gerring both saw efforts cleared off the line.

The Terras deserved to be ahead and their failure to take advantage of their dominance nearly cost them on 38 minutes when Jon Vance’s free-kick brought the best out of Manley, who pulled off a full-length stop to turn the ball around a post.

The first half then eventually closed with Craig Duff sending a header against the crossbar from a corner and Gerring seeing a shot saved by Astley as Weymouth continued knocking at the door.

And there was no letting up in the goalmouth action after the break with Gerring sending another header against the woodwork on 52 minutes, following a superbly delivered free-kick.

Vance then sent an attempt just wide at the other end before the visitors finally got the goal they deserved on the hour.

Once again it came from the impressive Malsom, who reacted quickest to a ricochet off a defender before slotting the ball through Astley’s legs. With time running out, Town soon began throwing more men forward in a last-ditch bid for an equaliser and with 15 minutes remaining they nearly got it when Vance’s sublime chip from 25 yards sailed over Manley and struck the crossbar.

Substitute Corey Lewis then saw an effort saved as Taunton continued to press, only to see Byerley cut the ball back to Malsom to score his third to kill off the tie on 86 minutes.

Commenting on Malsom’s performance, King added: “Sam is slowly getting fitter and sharper, and tonight he took all three goals really well.

“We played him on the wing and he was a constant threat throughout but to be fair everyone performed well in what was a great team performance.”

Taunton: Astley, Painter, Cole, McGrath, P Veal, Vance, Butler, C Veal, MacNab, Marsh, Rice (Lewis 62). Subs not used: Blake, Short, Pounde, Stone, Ingram, Legg.

Terras: Manley, Tribe, Dixon, Gerring, Poole, Duff, Marshallsay, Malsom (Conning 85), Groves, Byerley, Reed. Subs not used: Povall, King, Murray, McKechnie.

Bookings: Taunton – Chris McGrath (foul).

Weymouth – Gerring (unsporting behaviour), Reed (unsporting behaviour).

Attendance: 270