Cherries: Roach snaps up Wimborne keeper

15 September 2009 07:00
Cherries head of youth Joe Roach has given Wimborne Town a vote of thanks for their neighbourly gesture in releasing goalkeeper Shane Murphy. The 16-year-old, a product of Neil Mosss Between The Sticks goalkeeping school, has joined the clubs youth ranks after the Magpies agreed to transfer his registration. Roach was left searching for a replacement after Dan Thomas was promoted to the Cherries first-team squad following Ryan Pryces departure a fortnight ago. Wimborne were fantastic, said Roach. Their secretary Pete Barham and manager Alex Browne allowed us to have Shane with their blessing which isnt always the case in these situations. We were very appreciative of their support. We only carried one goalkeeper last season to give Dan the best opportunity. The situation changed when he was elevated to become Shwan Jalals understudy. We had been looking for a second goalkeeper but had been unsuccessful for various reasons. Neil Moss said Shane would fit the bill so we brought him in. Murphy, who has joined Cherries youth programme as a first year and will attend Brockenhurst College with his new team-mates, was handed his debut in their 1-0 defeat at Oxford in the Youth Alliance Cup on Saturday. He was thrown in at the deep end and did very well, said Roach. The back four and keeper had never played together before but they all did excellently. Cherries host Cheltenham in their next Youth Alliance Cup match on Saturday. Hereford and Swindon are also in their group. Cherries: Murphy, Vokes, Strugnell, Magookin, Holmes (Parsons, 70), Green, Bell (Hill, 64), Burbidge, Hester, Kemble (Strong, 55), Ings. Unused sub: Annetts. Meanwhile, Murphy has been named in the Cherries squad for tonights Football Combination clash at Salisbury (7.30pm). Cherries: (from) Thomas, Webb, Partington, Oldring, Holmes, McQuoid, Bartley, Hollands, Ings, Kemble, Connell, Magookin, Green, Strong, Strugnell, Murphy.

Source: Bournemouth_Echo