First US international Clint Dempsey struck the bar with a 30-yard strike and then Murphy repeated the trick with a curling shot from just outside the area.
Van der Vaart missed a half-chance to get his hat-trick when he sent ashot high and wide, but on his late substitution he left to a standing ovation and it is unlikely to be the last one he receives.
The lively Elliot was just out of reach of David Obua's pass in his bid to register a first-half hat-trick and then mis-hit ashot from 18 yards after being teed up perfectly by Driver.