Match Preview by Billy Neale
The Terras travel to Oxfordshire for their first qualifying round replay in the FA Cup, knowing a win against the Puritans would earn them a home tie against Bath City in the next round.
Mark Molesley’s men look to extend Weymouth’s run of getting past the first qualifying round. The Terras last failed to progress from this stage when they were knocked against Petersfield in the 2015/16 season, succumbing to a 3-1 loss with Stewart Yetton getting the goal for the Terras. Weymouth are also hoping to extend their great run of form away at Banbury, having not lost since the 2011/12 season, suffering a 3-0 defeat on that occasion.
Speaking to theterras.com after Saturday’s draw with Banbury United, Director of Football Paul Maitland said, “I thought Banbury did really well, they set up to frustrate and got a lot of people behind the ball once they got their goal, we had to be patient.
“You want to keep going forward but that way you’ll give the ball up, we have to be patient and I think we’ll see of that here this season.”
Having already scored 19 goals this season in 6 league games, with the league’s top-scorer Brandon Goodship getting 8 of those goals, the Terras faithful are hoping the star striker finds the back of the net after not being able to convert in the last two games, including having a penalty saved in the home tie.
Maitland paid credit to the Banbury United keeper, “Brandon doesn’t miss many penalties, in fairness to the keeper he’s clearly done his homework and he’s made a very good save; those things happen.
“We had a fair amount of chances that we didn’t take so we’ve got to dust ourselves off again and go on Tuesday night.”
The Southern League Central side sit 5th in the table unbeaten so far with a home record of played three; won two and a solitary draw.
Ashley Wells will return to squad after missing out last weekend, but Maitland was quick to praise Jordan Ngalo who deputised for the experienced right-back, “Jordan Ngalo’s performance was a real plus point, I thought he showed a lot of energy. He tired a little bit towards the end but that was to be expected as he missed the latter stages of pre-season because of a hamstring injury, so that was his first start of the season.
“I thought he put in a really assured performance considering it isn’t somewhere he’s used to playing, he did really well.
“Ashley Wells is back Tuesday night, so that gives us another option. I don’t think Diaz did a lot wrong at left-back either.”
If Weymouth progress to the second qualifying round of the FA Cup the tie against Bath City will be played at the Bob Lucas Stadium on 22nd September (3pm kick-off).