Weymouth put in a professional performance to ease into the third qualifying round of the FA Trophy with a comfortable 4-1 victory at Bedford Town on Saturday.
The Terras went into the clash as heavy favourites against their Central league opponents, and their class really told throughout.
Weymouth made a fast start, looking to stamp their authority on proceedings early on. Chris Shephard almost pulled off a repeat of his stunning free-kick at Merthyr last weekend, but his effort from 30 yards flew just wide twelve minutes in, before Dean Evans headed narrowly wide moments later.
But on sixteen minutes the midfielder went one better and broke the deadlock. He was afforded far too much space and slotted home from the edge of the box to give Weymouth the lead.
Moments later Adam Kelly was inches away from doubling the lead when his ferocious shot smashed against the crossbar and away to safety. And the hosts would take full advantage of their good fortune just minutes later.
Solomon Sambou set his sights from range and fired a stunning strike beyond the despairing reach of Matthews to bring the Eagles level on 25 minutes.
The Terras were stunned, and it could have got even better for Bedford a few minutes later when they went close from a free-kick.
Gradually however Weymouth regained their composure, and on 38 minutes they were back in front when Stewart Yetton’s shot just about trickled over the line. Chris Shephard then added a third right on the stroke of half time to put Weymouth in the box seat.
Early in the second half Matthews again removed himself from the action as a precaution. Steve Boore had only just stepped onto the pitch when Yetton was on hand to net his second and his side fourth of the afternoon on 55 minutes to kill any lingering hopes of a Bedford fightback.
Weymouth played out the final half hour or so very comfortably without any real fuss. There was time for Bedford’s Bilal Yafai to be given his marching orders for a rash challenge on Mark Molesley late on, but it had no effect on the outcome in truth. Weymouth were the better side all over the pitch, and they’ll just be glad to avoid a repeat of the Petersfield capitulation in the FA Cup.
Their Ridgeway rivals Dorchester will be counting their lucky stars as two own goals handed them a Monday night replay at Kingstonian.
The Magpies were handed a dream start after just four minutes when Bradley Tarbuck’s cross was sliced into his own net by Kingstonian defender Aaron Goode.
That early goal seemed to really knock the visitors off their stride, and Dorchester were by far the better side for the opening twenty minutes.
They were a lick of paint away from doubling their lead on 23 minutes when Ben Watson’s deflected shot looped over visiting goalkeeper Rob Tolfrey before bouncing off the crossbar.
Tolfrey then had to be on his toes to keep his side in it moments later – clawing away Smeeton’s powerful drive, and then saving Watson’s header from the resulting corner as the hosts piled on the pressure.
But having dominated the first 25 minutes, the hosts were made to pay for their missed chances as they were hit with a double sucker punch.
First Harold Otametey set off on a surging run from inside his own half and found Pico Gomez, whose low cross to the back post was turned in by Beccles to bring the visitors level.
Dorchester’s protests that it was offisde were waved away, and less than two minutes later the tie was turned on it’s head when Odametey’s pull back was fired home by Gomez, sending the travelling fans into raptures.
The hosts couldn’t believe it, and the rest of the first half passed without any real incident. Kingstonian suddenly looked far more composed in possession, as Dorchester struggled to get a foot hold.
The visitors nearly doubled their lead early in the second half when some very sloppy play allowed Gomez in on goal, but Walker-Harris was quickly off his line to smother the shot and spare his team-mates blushes.
Dorchester began to throw more and more men forwards but they failed to carve out any real opportunities of note – the final ball lacking every time, and the visitors were content to sit back and try and hit the Magpies on the counter attack. But eight minutes from time Dorchester were given a lifeline.
Visiting slipper Alan Inns gave away a free-kick after a dangerous tackle on Ayunga. Smeeton whipped it in and it was glanced into the top corner off the head of the unfortunate Dan Bennett to set up a grandstand finish.
But neither side could force one last chance in the remaining few minutes and Dorchester will have to travel to south London for a replay on Monday night.
Elsewhere on Saturday Poole Town had the opportunity to focus on league matters, and two goals from Luke Roberts were enough to give them victory over Cambridge City and put them back on top of the table.
They took the lead on seventeen minutes when City failed to deal with Devlin’s cross, and Luke Roberts turned neatly to fire home in the centre of the area to give the hosts the lead.
It could have been 2-0 just seconds later, when City gave the ball away from the restart and Roberts played in Burbridge, but the winger’s shot flew just wide. Whisken then hit the crossbar with a header before Burbridge had an effort blocked on the line, as the Dolphins continued to dominate first half proceedings, but at half time they only had the one goal to show for it.
City regrouped at half time and looked much brighter at the start of the second half. And their heroic defending was rewarded on the hour mark when Poole failed to properly clear their lines, and Michael Malcolm fired home from the edge of the area to level things up just past the hour mark.
But seventeen minutes from time the Dolphins regained the lead. Luke Burbridge went on a powerful run to the byline, and his low centre was swept home by Roberts for his second of the afternoon, and ultimately it proved enough to give the Dolphins all three points to put them back on top of the table.
They’ll be hoping to kick on on Tuesday night when they travel to sixth placed Chippenham Town. The Bluebirds surprised everyone with their fantastic start, but since losing their unbeaten record they’ve struggled to find any real form – winning just one of their last five games and dropping out of the play-offs. But they did turn Poole over 3-1 at Tatnam earlier in the season, so it promises to be an intriguing contest at Hardenhuish Park.
Weymouth will look to continue their rich vein of form when they travel to struggling Bideford. The Robins are finding it tough going this season and currently lie 22nd in the table, five points adrift of safety. They are usually a tough proposition at home, but Weymouth would be fairly disappointed with anything other than a win on Tuesday night.
James Spring
