Torquay United beat AFC Stoneham 6-1 in the second qualifying round of the FA Cup this afternoon.
Hat-trick Goal celebrations for Sonny Blu Lo-Everton of Torquay United during the Emirates FA Cup Second Round Qualifying match between Torquay United and AFC Stoneham at Plainmoor, Torquay on Saturday 19th September 2026 - PHOTO: Frankie OKeeffe/PPAUK
Hat-trick Goal celebrations for Sonny Blu Lo-Everton of Torquay United during the Emirates FA Cup Second Round Qualifying match between Torquay United and AFC Stoneham at Plainmoor, Torquay on Saturday 19th September 2026 - PHOTO: Frankie OKeeffe/PPAUK(Image: Frankie OKeeffe/PPAUK)
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Sonny Blu Lo-Everton scored a captain’s hat trick when Torquay United beat AFC Stoneham 6-1 in the second qualifying round of the FA Cup this afternoon.
The game was a cakewalk in the end, not the banana skin, and by the time Lo-Everton - who was wearing the captain’s armband - got his third goal of the afternoon, it was already 5-1 and a fait accompli.
In fact, it was 4-1 by half time, with Lo-Everton getting his first two goals after Callum Morton and Jacob Beaumont-Clark had started the rout. In the end, substitutes Isaac Westendorf and Cody Cooke combined to get the final goal of the game – with Cooke given a goal that might yet turn out to be Westendorf’s.
There was a debut for new defender Taylor Scarff after the 26-year-old was signed from Plymouth Parkway on Friday. With Jake Wannell suspended and Oludare Olufunwa picking up an injury in the last game, Scarff started life at Torquay alongside Tyler Hill at centre back. Ball made some more changes with Dan Hayfield, Matt Jay and Morton given starts, while Issac Westendorf and Sean Robertson were back on the bench.
Scarff took a knock in the early stages and was treated for a cut on his forehead. In the seventh minute, with Scarff just back on the pitch, it was 1-0 when Lo-Everton sent in a good low cross to the edge of the box where Morton was unmarked and swept the ball home.
Goal celebrations for Callum Morton of Torquay United during the Emirates FA Cup Second Round Qualifying match between Torquay United and AFC Stoneham at Plainmoor, Torquay on Saturday 19th September 2026 - PHOTO: Frankie OKeeffe/PPAUK(Image: Frankie OKeeffe/PPAUK)
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A Beaumont-Clark shot was easy for the goalkeeper Ross Casey to hold. Scarff was treated some more after his head started bleeding again in the 15th minute. There might have been a penalty when Tegan Finn was outmuscled and fell in the area while running at goal. Beaumont-Clark saw a cross skid along the crossbar in the 29th minute. Torquay were having all the possession and staying patient – probing the deep-sitting Stoneham defence for gaps and opportunities. Tom Annetts had the visitors’ first real chance – but dragged his shot wide.
In the 35th minute, Beaumont-Clark cut inside from the left and found the far corner of the Stoneham net with a quality, right-footed strike from 25 yards. A mistake by Torquay’s goalkeeper Toby Savin led to a Stoneham goal in the 37th minute. It was a poor clearance by Savin that gave Annetts the chance from just inside the area, and the player didn’t miss this time.
Goal celebrations for Jacob Beaumont-Clark of Torquay United during the Emirates FA Cup Second Round Qualifying match between Torquay United and AFC Stoneham at Plainmoor, Torquay on Saturday 19th September 2026 - PHOTO: Frankie OKeeffe/PPAUK(Image: Frankie OKeeffe/PPAUK)
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A great Morton run in the 43rd ended with a through ball for Lo-Everton and the Torquay midfielder passed the ball into the net for his third goal in three games. Casey pushed a Beaumont-Clark shot over the top in time-added-on and from the corner, Lo-Everton’s deflected shot from just inside the area made it 4-1 for half time.
There were no changes at the start of the second half and it was more of the same with Torquay playing the ball about well. Finn shot over from the right in the 49th minute. Hill gave Stoneham another good chance in the 51st minute but Savin pulled off an excellent save from a close-range Annetts strike. The cut on Scarff’s head opened up again in the 53rd minute so he went off with Munashe Sundire coming on and Hayfield moving into the back four.
Ball made a triple change in the 61st minute: Cooke for Morton, Caleb Roberts for Jay, and Westendorf for Finn. Lo-Everton completed his hat trick in the 69th minute when the ball fell to him in front of goal after the ball had been taken off Cooke’s foot. Robertson came on for Dom Bernard in the 77th minute. Ollie O’Mahoney shot straight at Savin from a good position two minutes later.
Robertson looked quick and lively and created the space for himself to shoot over, while Lo-Everton’s 88th minute strike was too high. Westendorf got his head on the end of a Beaumont-Clark cross in the third minute of time-added-on. Cooke swung his leg at the ball and the goalkeeper was left stranded – and allowed it to roll past him. The announcer gave the goal to Cooke – but Westendorf will be looking keenly at the video tonight to see if his was actually the last touch.