On Saturday Weymouth make the trip north to Lancashire in the second round of the FA Trophy looking to progress to the third round for the first time since the 2007/08 season when they lost to Ebsfleet 1-0. Ebsfleet went onto win the trophy with a 1-0 win against Torquay.
The last time Weymouth reached the second round proper was in the 2011/12 season when the terras were defeated 0-6 by Alfreton who were a National league team at the time. Ramsbottom have never reached this stage of the competition. Saturdays fixture also sees the first time that the two teams will have played each other.
Ramsbottom United progressed into this round by beating Workington 2-0 in a replay. Weymouth progressed in much different circumstances with Needham Market withdrawing from the competition after the original fixture was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch and Needham Market could not field a team that would travel to Dorset on the following Tuesday night.
The home team come into this game in 7th position in Northern division one. The last 5 fixtures have seen Ramsbottom win 3 draw 1 and lose 1. Meanwhile Weymouth are second in the southern league south premier and the last 5 fixtures have seen the Terras win 2 and draw 3.
The Harry Williams Riverside Stadium will be the tenth most northerly ground the Terras have visited in their history (by latitude) for a competitive game. If Workington had won their replay v Ramsbottom it would have been the second most northerly!
This is only the third time we have progressed through four rounds in the FA Trophy. The last time was 2011/12 – also our last appearance in round 2. Sadly this was our biggest ever Trophy loss – another team near Manchester – when Alfreton beat Weymouth 6-0.
Weymouth’s record in round 2 is W10 D6 L14; although overall the record is poorer away from home – W3 D3 L9.
Form guide last 5:
Ramsbottom: D L W W W
Weymouth: W D D W D