Somerset Trojans 4

B&V United 0

Justin Corday scored two goals and created another as Somerset Trojans eased into the quarter-finals of the FA Cup.

On as second-half substitute last night, Corday gave his team’s performance an air of respectability against their Corona League opponents.

Trojans were less than impressive but were still too strong for a United side that failed to created a single meaningful effort on goal all evening at Somerset Cricket Club.

United, who failed to get to grips with the bumpy pitch and windy conditions, never looked like causing an upset. Still, it took the Premier Division side 34 minutes to break the deadlock and even then they required a helping hand from the visiting team.

Jamel Thompson, the United defender, began the comedy of errors that led to the Trojans opener by failing to make a relatively simple clearance with the ball near his own byline. Instead, the ball was forced out for a throw, Leo Burgess’s cross from the right was missed by a host of United defenders and Vashun Blanchette was left to rifle the ball home from close range.

The move was the most effective piece of football that either side had produced up until that point, which was not saying much for a mediocre affair that never really rose above the mundane.

United, meanwhile, were reduced to taking potshots from distance and hoisting the ball forward to Dennis Russell, who spent most of his time playing with his back to goal.

Corday’s introduction with an hour gone at least gave Trojans some direction going forward, and he brought Tahj Wade, the winger, more and more into the game. Wade’s pace was a constant threat and he finally got a cross in from the left that Corday touched in just ahead of the despairing dive from Ryan Evans, the United goalkeeper.

The 68th-minute goal took the wind out of United’s sails and, with Wade and Burgess causing panic every time they got the ball, Somerset charged forward looking for a third. That it took until seven minutes from time for it to arrive had as much to do with United’s stubborn defending as it did with Wade’s constant determination to dribble around every player he could before passing the ball.

Eventually, however, Corday found himself unmarked in acres of space on the right. With United caught cold, the ball was floated into the box and he lifted it over Evans to put the game beyond doubt.

All that was left was for Corday to turn provider, setting Burgess free with a ball over the top that left the United defence for dead.

Burgess made no mistake, rounding off the move by skipping past Evans and slamming the ball into an empty net three minutes from time.