Steyning boss praises players after FA Cup progress

Gerry Murphy, boss at Steyning / Picture: Derek Martin

The 2-0 victory over Aylesford side K Sports, courtesy of two second-half goals gives Steyning a home tie in the preliminary round a week on Saturday, when they will host Combined Counties League side Hanworth Villa.

Tuesday night’s game ended in strange circumstances after a hold-up for a serious injury to a home player. The referee blew for full-time a few minutes early.

Murphy paid tribute to both tams afterwards for the way they got the game finished after what he said was a ‘nasty injury’.

He said: “We saw the game out, it was game over. Credit to both teams.

“Our boys put a shift in. It’s difficult when you’re 2-0 up and they fo down to ten men, you sink back a little. We changed our shape expecting them to go long and they did.

“In the second half I thought we looked in much better control of the game than we had in the first half.

“They had one or two little chances but our defending was really good and we created some chances.

“It was quite a physical game but we stood up to it and now we look forward to the next round.”

Murphy said starting the competitive season with a midweek trip to Kent was not ideal but the squad could now focus on the SCFL premier division opener, which comes at AFC Uckfield this Saturday, followed by a home game against Saltdean next Tuesday.