WEYMOUTH boss Mark Molesley has called for improved “game management” and “quality” ahead of the Terras’ FA Trophy second round replay with Ramsbottom United at the Bob Lucas Stadium tonight (7.45pm).
The winners of the replay will host National League high-fliers AFC Fylde on Saturday, February 2 (3pm).
Molesley watched on as Weymouth twice relinquished the lead at the Greater Manchester side, Iyrwah Gooden scrambling home a 95th-minute leveller after Jake McCarthy and Calvin Brooks had netted either side of Nic Evangelinos’ equaliser.
And the manner of the Rams’ second goal has left Molesley yearning for a return to Weymouth’s usual high standards.
When asked what improvements he wanted to see in the replay, the former Bournemouth midfielder told Echosport: “Better game management and just get back to our usual quality on the the ball.
“We lacked a little bit of quality at times, maybe awareness of what was needed in the game at vital moments.”
Molesley is also respectful of the eighth-tier Rams, the lowest-ranked side left in the competition now facing a 270-mile trip to Dorset.
“It’s obviously a long trip for a Tuesday night,” he said. “But we’ve got home advantage now and we need to make sure we secure any advantage we can have and make the most of it.
“They might relish that challenge. We’re up there to be shot at, teams tend to raise their game when they play against us.
“We’re expecting a tough challenge, they showed that. Full respect to them, they’re a good side and worked hard. We’ll be expecting the same.
“If we play to the best of our ability we should have a good chance. But we’ll have to show a lot more quality.”
Weymouth were able to name striker Yemi Odubade on the bench for the tie after signing permanently from Eastbourne Borough in midweek.
Molesley said of the forward: “He’s a vastly experienced player and a good character on and off the pitch. Hopefully he can share some of his valuable experience with our younger players and put in good performances on the pitch to secure as many points as we can.”
Weymouth trio Ben Thomson, Josh Wakefield and Tiago Sa were all struck down with illness and did not travel to Lancashire, but Molesley is hopeful all three will be fit for the replay.
Elsewhere, with rumours abound that coveted marksman Brandon Goodship had been the subject of interest from Football League sides, Molesley set the record straight.
He said: “There’s no truth in those rumours. Until someone phones the football club and puts it in writing, an official approach for him, they are just rumours.
“There’s plenty of rumours this time of year in January, but all Brandon can do is put his head down and play football. He needs to just focus on his football and let his football do the talking.
“At the moment the club has received no offer for him.”
Elsewhere, Dorchester’s conquerors Barnet face a trip to seventh-tier Carshalton Athletic.
FA Trophy last-16 draw: Carshalton Athletic v Barnet; Weymouth or Ramsbottom United v AFC Fylde; Leyton Orient v Blyth Spartans; Chesterfield v Brackley Town; Salford City v Maidstone; Harrogate Town v Stockport County; Hemel Hempstead v Halifax or Solihull Moors; Spennymoor Town v AFC Telford.
Meanwhile, Weymouth have dropped to third in the Evo-Stik Southern Premier South following Met Police’s 3-0 win over Hendon on Saturday.
