FOOTBALL: Murfin sends Wick into semi-finals

Wick will now meet County League title favourites and FA Vase semi-finalists Whitehawk in the last four next Thursday (March 18).

The win erased the disappointment of their loss to Seaford in the quarter-finals of the John O'Hara Cup last Monday and Murfin's treble took him to 32 goals for the season. He said: "I'm really pleased with my personal scoring tally this season and, hopefully, we can do the same against Whitehawk in the next round."

It did not look cut-and-dried for Wick for the first 20 minutes, though, as Shoreham had the better of the early exchanges. They went one-up through a deflected Ryan Bradley strike on eight minutes after a neat one-two with James Rhodes.

Had it not been for Alex Bryant's fingertips, Owen Callaghan could have doubled Shoreham's lead, but it was not to be as Wick slowly came back into the game.

It was no surprise when they equalised in the 35th minute after some nice one-touch stuff on the halfway line saw George Gaskin play a ball through the Shoreham defence to Murfin, who drilled past Shoreham keeper Michael Hunter.

Bradley could have restored Mussels' lead before the break, when he capitalised on a poor clearance, only to see his lob finish on the roof of the net.

This season, Wick have been far stronger in the second half of games and so it proved in this match. Just five minutes in, Hunter brought Murfin down to concede a penalty and earn himself a yellow card in the process. Murfin dispatched the kick down the middle to give Wick the lead.

Shoreham had strong claims for a penalty in the 76th minute that were waved away by referee Paul John, who otherwise had an excellent game.

Wick made sure of the win when substitute James West played an inch perfect pass into the path of the on-rushing Murfin, who coolly chipped the ball over an advancing Hunter with four minutes left on the clock.

There was still time for Bradley to score a consolation from six yards deep into injury time, but it was too little, too late for Mussels.

Relieved Wick manager Carl Stabler said: "I didn't mention Monday's game, as we all know we let an opportunity slip, but I thought we played well today and restricted the amount of chances they had.

"We've got Whitehawk in the next round, but their priorities could be elsewhere. Having said that, with their squad they could rest a few players and still put out a strong side."

Wick's match with Whitehawk next Thursday is at Hassocks with a 7.45pm kick-off.

WICK: Bryant; Torode, Pearce, Sharman, Buckland; Huggett, Wrigley, Clayton, Barnard; Gaskin, S.Murfin. Subs: West (Gaskin 83), More (Wrigley 92) French (S.Murfin 95), N.Murfin, Kew.

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