Weymouth and Wimborne Town both came from behind to book their places in the first round proper of the FA Trophy on Saturday.
Despite a few Weymouth fans predicting a Cricket score, as expected the underdogs were up for the fight, and the Terras were made to work hard for the result.
Cray Wanderers went into the game second bottom of the Ryman League Divison One North, but they made a bright start – taking a deserved lead after a quarter of an hour when Adrian Stone fired across goal into the bottom corner.
It could have been 2-0 shortly afterwards, when a long ball forwards found Laurent Hamici, but Jason Matthews made a sharp save low down to his left, and the home crowd began to grow a little restless.
But gradually the Terras got into their stride, and they were level after half an hour. A slick passing move saw the ball fed wide to Chris Shephard, who put a cross in towards the head of Tim Sills. The big taget man headed it back across the face of goal into the path of Stewart Yetton, who bundled it home from barely a yard out.
It was almost 2-1 just before half time, but George Rigg’s shot from the edge of the box flew just wide of the post, much to the relief of the keeper desperatly scrambling across his goal.
The first twenty minutes of the second half where fairly uneventful, and it was the introduction of Adam Kelly from the bench which changed the game.
Just seconds after coming on he made an impact – recieving the ball in the box before being brought down by a defender for a penalty.
Stewart Yetton made no mistake – smashing the ball into the roof of the net to give the Terras the lead, and allow most of the crowd to breath a big sigh of relief.
Suddenly the Terras began to look much more comfortable, and the win was sealed five minutes from time, in rather scruffy circumstances.
As Cray pushed men forwards they were hit on the break. Chris Shephard’s knock on fell to Aldershot loanee Tristian Plummer, who crossed to the unmarked Yetton at the back post. He lifted the ball over the keeper to give himself to the simple task of tapping it into an unguarded net. But just as he was about to celebrate his hat-trick, Plummer got the final touch virtually on the goal line, to cap his last appearance for the club before his loan expired with a goal.
Plummer had the chance to make it up to his captain in injury time, when the Terras again caught the visitors on the break. It was four against two in Weymouth’s favour, but Plummer chose to go it alone, and his shot only found the side netting.
Still it didn’t matter, Weymouth were safely through to the first round proper. They have been rewarded with a tasty looking home tie against their old Conference South rivals Havant & Waterlooville. The Conference South is where Weymouth ultimately aim to be next season, so this should be a good test for them.
Wimborne Town are also through to the first round proper after they stunned Ryman Premier side AFC Hornchurch with a 4-2 win at Cuthbury.
After a fairly uninspiring first half, the tie came to life in the second half.
The visitors drew first blood on 57 minutes through Michael Malcolm.
But just three minutes later Wimborne equalised in spectacular fashion.
The keeper charged out to try and beat Mark Gamble to a loose ball, but his clearance only went as far as Jamie Davidson near the right touchline. He looked up and saw the keeper off his line, before hitting a superb chip which beat both the keeper and two defenders on the line, to pull the hosts level.
Five minutes after that the game was turned on it’s head when Billy Maybury was chopped down on the edge of the box. Hornchurch defender Frankie Curley was sent off for his troubles, and the visitors’ misery was compounded when Sam Griffin curled the resulting free kick beautifully into the top corner.
Wimborne were now on top, but fifteen minutes from time the visitors equalised completely against the run of play, when Martin Tuohy headed home a corner.
Wimborne pushed for a winner but Hornchurch stood firm. But just when it looked like the Magpies would have to make a long midweek trip to Essex, up popped Jamie Davidson to put the hosts 3-2 up and spark wild celebrations at Cuthbury.
Naturally Hornchurch threw everyone forwards to try and rescue a draw, but they were caught out again three minutes into added time, when Mark Gamble raced onto a long punt forwards, before calmly slotting it past the onrushing keeper to secure Wimborne’s passage.
They’ve been rewarded with another home tie against Conference North opposition Oxford City (yeah I know, Conference North…). The crowd should be in for a cracker on December 13th when the tie takes place, as Oxford City have a habit of being involved in high scoring games. Their results this season have included a 6-1, 7-2 and a 5-3 win, along with an 8-1 and 4-3 loss. They’re fairly hit and miss it would seem!
Poole Town will face an unwanted replay at Tatnam on Tuesday night after they played out a thrilling 3-3 draw at Staines on Saturday.
There was little to seperate the sides when they met in the FA Cup last season, and with only two league places seperating them at the minute, this season was no different.
Paul Devlin gave the Dolphins the lead from the penalty spot on 17 minutes, and they had numerous chances to double the lead – most notably Luke Burbridge who weaved his way past three players before seeing his shot palmed away by Jack Turner.
They did finally double their lead on 32 minutes, albeit through an own goal – Chris M’Boungou slicing Neil Martin’s cross into his own net.
Poole were sitting pretty, but within minutes they were back to square one as Staines stunned them with two goals in as many minutes.
First, ex Newport County player Elliott Buchanan raced onto a long ball forwards before beating Nick Hutchings to make it 2-1.
And from the restart it became 2-2, when Stephane Ngamvoulou’s cross was chested home by Elliott Charles.
Poole were rocked, and but for some frantic defending they could have gone in at the break 3-2 down, and were no doubt gratefull to hear the half time whistle.
The second half carried on in much the same fashion, with the hosts on top.
But against the run of play Poole went back in front just past the hour mark, when Luke Burbridge played in Luke Roberts, who took it round a defender before calmly slotting it home.
But this lead didn’t last either. Just seven minutes later Ashley Lodge reacted quickest to a loose ball in the Poole penalty area, firing an unstoppable shot into the net to make it 3-3.
Staines were inches away from going ahead just four minutes after that, when Danny Bassett hit a shot from 25 yards which hit the post before going out of play for a goal kick, much to the relief of Nick Hutchings.
Both sides had chances to win it, but it ended 3-3, and they’ll meet for the fourth time in a year on Tuesday night. Last season Staines came out on top in a replay at Tatnam, so the Dolphins will be looking to put that right. The winner will face a trip to another Conference South club – Maidenhead United.
Weymouth and Dorchester are also in cup action this midweek, in the slightly less glamourous Dorset Senior Cup.
Weymouth host Hamworthy Recreation on Tuesday night whilst Dorchester travel to Swanage on Wednesday night. No doubt both sides will rest a few key players ahead of crucial league games at the weekend.
Weymouth will host the Southern League’s bottom club Banbury United, and they’ll be hoping Dorchester can do them a favour again by getting a result at 3rd placed St Neots Town.
Meanwhile league leaders Poole Town will be away to a Hitchin Town side who are badly out of form. Both the Terras and the Dolphins will be expected to win fairly comfortably, but the Southern League has already thrown up plenty of surprises this season, and they’ll be taking nothing for granted, as each game takes on more signifficance in the run in to Christmas. It’s getting exciting!
James Spring
