Late strike rescues Rams

RAMSBOTTOM UNITED 2

Evangelinos 68’, Godden 90+5

WEYMOUTH 2

McCarthy 37’, Brooks 83’

It will be Ramsbottom United’s turn to make the 500-mile round trip on Tuesday night as a late strike from Iyrwah Godden set up a replay for the two sides in the second round of the Buildbase FA Trophy.

Goals from Jake McCarthy and Calvin Brooks twice gave Weymouth the lead, but the Terras were left frustrated as Godden equalised for the Rams in the dying seconds of the game.

Weymouth made four changes to the starting eleven who beat Tiverton Town last weekend, as they were able to welcome back Stephane Zubar from suspension, whilst Brandon Goodship and Calvin Brooks, who both missed out last time through injury returned. Adbulai Baggie also returned to the starting line-up as Yemi Odubade and Jordan Ngalo started from the bench.

The Rams started brightly and created the first opportunity of the game but Kyle Jacobs’s header failed to test Lloyd Thomas as it went wide of the goal.

Ten minutes into the game and some early pressure from Weymouth eventually lead to them winning a free-kick on the edge of the area, however Brandon Goodship’s follow-up attempt was saved by Sam Ashton.

Five minutes later it was then the Terras turn to defend from a free-kick, but Thomas was there to make a spectacular finger tip save to deny Tom Kennedy’s strike.

Thomas was at the Terras’ rescue again, when Jason Carey was neatly played through by Eddie Moran, the Weymouth keeper was there to make a one-on-one save and Nic Evangelinos could only put the follow-up effort wide.

On 38 minutes Ramsbottom’s Luke Thompson found his way into the book and the resultant free-kick saw the Terras open the scoring. Although he’s so used to scoring himself, Goodship became the provider when Jake McCarthy was on the end of his free-kick and the Weymouth skipper’s header found the bottom corner to put Weymouth in the lead.

Weymouth thought they had doubled their lead five minutes later, but when Harry Baker found the back of the net he was called back for offside.

Ramsbottom had a reshuffle at half-time as they brought on Iyrwah Gooden for Ryan Ellison whilst Weymouth remained unchanged.

Seven minutes into the second-half and Baker had another opportunity to score, he was on the end of a Goodship free-kick but his header went wide.

Ramsbottom went straight up the other end and Evangelinos tried to beat Thomas at the near post, but Thomas was there to stop the effort.

In a busy couple of minutes for Baker, he then played through Calvin Brooks, but Brooks’ could only shoot straight at Ashton from a tight angle.

Shortly after the hour mark, Goodship nearly found the net in bizarre circumstances, when he put pressure on the Ramsbottom defence the clearance cannoned off him and went just wide of the goal.

Two minutes later with Weymouth playing the ball out from the back well, Goodship again was putting pressure on the Ramsbottom defence, his shot was parried into the path of Abdulai Baggie whose effort forced a corner for the Terras.

Thomas then had to be alert to save a long-range effort Jamie Rother, as the Rams looked desperate to find a way back into the match.

But shortly after Ramsbottom equalised, Kendey drilled in a low corner and Evangelinos was there to tuck the ball away at the near post.

Weymouth responded by introducing Yemi Odubade and then Jordan Ngalo.

With seven minutes remaining the Terras wing-back, Calvin Brooks was played through and goal and calmly slotted past Ashton to regain the lead for Weymouth.

However, the Terras were ultimately left frustrated as with seconds remaining, Ramsbottom United forced a replay when Godden converted a dangerous Kennedy free-kick.

The draw for the third round of the Buildbase FA Trophy will be made on Monday afternoon.

Ramsbottom United: Ashton, Kennedy, Ellison (Godden 45’), Moran, Thompson, Woodford, Osi-Efa, Rother, Carey (Slew 58’), Jacobs, Evangelinos.

Subs: Donaldson, Lugsden, Parker.

Weymouth: Thomas, Wells (Ngalo 79’), Buckley, Zubar, Sherring, McCarthy, Baggie, Carmichael, Baker (Odubade 70’), Goodship, Brooks (Farrugia 84’).

Subs: Farrugia, Martin, Molesley.

Attendance: 457