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Replay set as Weymouth draw a blank against Burnham
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| WEYMOUTH drew their third blank this season in all competitions at the Bob Lucas Stadium, as they stuttered their way to a stalemate with Burnham in the FA Trophy.
The Terras were left frustrated as they failed to pierce through a stubborn Burnham rearguard, and even survived some hairy moments of their own as both sides had to settle for a replay that, in all honesty, was probably about right. Swelling to Chris McPhee’s foot meant he could not take his place in the squad, meaning Adam Kelly was brought back into the Weymouth starting XI after making way for Tristan Plummer at Hitchin Town in the league last week. The visiting Blues, 22nd in the Evo-Stik Southern Premier Division, made a solid start, forc-ing a couple of early corners, and the first real chance came when frontman Nicke Kebamba latched on to a loose ball from Chris Shephard’s interception, and drilled his effort which was blocked at the near post. Kelly then sent a rasping strike towards goal on eight minutes which dipped just over the top, after the away side failed to close him down. The Terras’ midfielder looked lively on his return and was involved once again just past the quarter of an hour mark. He made a swift run from deep and went down in the area, but referee Adam Penwell showed no interest in pointing to the spot. A free-kick from Blues’ winger Tom O’Regan then deflected inches wide for a corner, and Weymouth skipper Yetton prod-uced a powerful low effort which crashed into the advertising hoardings after linking up with Kelly once again. A second penalty shout then came for the home side after half an hour and it was that man Kelly who was once again heavily involved. Getting inside the box after a brisk run from Ashley Wells down the right, the attacking midfielder tussled with Romaine Walker, and although a number of Terras’ fans behind the goal cried for a penalty, nothing could persuade man in the middle Penwell. And from out of virtually nowhere, Burnham could have broken the deadlock moments before the interval. The run of O’Regan was not tracked from the right by Wey-mouth and his strike from Kofi Lockhard-Adams’ centre was hit with venom, but failed to trouble player-manager Matthews. Following the interval, O’Regan’s strike was emulated by Shephard, who blazed well over inside the area after Kelly set up a carbon-copy of the Burnham chance before the break. Kelly continued to cause the Blues problems on his return to the side and his devilish delivery from the left on this occasion narrowly evaded Yetton and Jake Wannell, who were sliding in at the back post. The Terras then had an effort from a corner disallowed for a foul in the area, and Burnham broke to force a smart save from Matthews, as both sides signalled their intentions against con-testing a replay. Matthews’ men were then powerless to stop Jordan Ajanl-ekoko rising highest and heading on goal, only for the effort to be stabbed off the line as the home side hung on to their clean sheet. Shephard then struck a post when the ball looked destined to find the Burnham net, and the Terras threw on veteran frontman Tim Sills into the mix in search of the winner. Jordan Copp was then intro-duced into a more advanced role than his regular left-back slot, and he stood the ball up at the back post for Yetton, who looped a header over. And with just seven minutes left on the clock, central-defender Jamie Laird must have thought he had won it for the hosts. After a well-directed corner, some pinball in the box ensued and the ball eventually fell to Laird five yards out, only for his effort to deflect wide with Alex Lynch in the Burnham goal already committed to diving in the wrong direction. Copp then broke clear and put the ball home once again but was adjudged offside, from that mom-ent a replay seemed destined. Kebamba has one final guilt- edge opportunity for Burnham as he headed narrowly wide uncontested at the back post, and although the game partly came to life in the second period, neither side will feel they full deserved to progress. * For the replay, the club coach will be leaving the Bob Lucas Stadium tuesday at 2.30pm, with the cost being £15. To book your seat, contact Brian Walbrin on 07778579352. * There was a minute’s silence before kick-off prior to the game in memory of Hayden ‘Roy’ Targett who passed away on Tuesday, November 11. Having signed for Weymouth in 1952, he made 104 appearances for the club before going on to play for Dorchester Town.
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