Street stun Weymouth to set up a replay

WEYMOUTH 2

Thomson 16, McCarthy 34

STREET 2

Bailey 46, O’Hare 86

WEYMOUTH were shocked at full-time as they conceded late on to draw 2-2 with Street in their FA Trophy second qualifying round match at the Bob Lucas Stadium.

The Terras strode into a 2-0 half-time lead through Ben Thomson and Jake McCarthy, but the visitors fought back through Leigh Bailey and David O’Hare.

Weymouth made just one change from their 2-1 win over Basingstoke Town last time out as Callum Buckley replaced Josh Carmichael.

Street named former Magpie Phil Ormrod in attack, with ex-Bridport players Bailey, who started, and Ed Butcher who was on the bench.

There was a wreath laying ceremony prior to the match in which veterans came onto the pitch to lay a wreath with a minute’s silence.

The first effort came from Weymouth after a mazy run from Calvin Brooks who laid off the ball to McCarthy to bring a good save from Street goalkeeper Tom Punchard from just outside the box.

A clever bit of play from Brooks saw him intercept immediately after Street won back possession on the Weymouth right.

Brooks then gave it to Thomson who ran and got into the box but fired straight at Punchard from an angle.

Weymouth were getting closer and were clearly the better team after 15 minutes.

Thomson found space on the left, shook off a tackle inside the box and fired in a shot that deflected off Punchard and away.

The looping ball then got close to Abdulai Baggie who could not reach to get the crucial touch.

Street retaliated by playing a long ball up that was played through Weymouth goalkeeper Jordan Seabright’s legs but Sam Sherring read it and easily cleared from two yards out.

Weymouth made their dominance count when McCarthy hit a half-volley from the edge of the box which was headed in by Thomson to hand the Terras the lead after 16 minutes.

The home side looked likely to add a second as the half wore on. Brooks played a great ball over to a waiting Baggie, who zipped a superb cross over to Brandon Goodship who shot over the bar.

Punchard was having a fine performance for the visitors in goal as he time and time again denied efforts to extend the scoreline.

Ormrod then did well to get into the Weymouth box as the visitors momentarily enjoyed a good spell of possession, but his shot was wastefully tame and straight at Seabright.

Weymouth then doubled their lead after 34 minutes when McCarthy saw a deft shot bounce beyond Punchard to give the Terras a deserved 2-0 scoreline which they held to half-time.

The second half began in a very different fashion to the first, with Bailey tapping in from four yards out to narrow the score for Street.

Mark Molesley’s men replied by resuming their dominance of possession but Street were vastly more incisive with the ball and looking a real threat.

Jamie Short then hit a ball wastefully from distance that Seabright easily collected but the Terras were getting closer to a third.

Short then swung in a free-kick for another easy Seabright save after Brooks had fouled 10 yards from the corner flag.

Goodship then fired just wide from the edge of the box with 63 minutes on the clock.

The Terras again went close when a Josh Wakefield corner was swung in towards Brooks, who headed over from close range.

The frantic first half was feeling rather distant as substitute Ed Butcher whipped a shot well wide for Street in a much quieter second period.

In an error-strewn passage of play, the ball then bounced off the Street defence towards substitute Harry Baker, who shot wide from a good position on the edge of the box.

Shortly afterwards, Thomson got on the end of a ball inside the area but fired straight at Punchard.

The visitors were applying late pressure and deserved an equaliser, when a brilliant move forward saw substitute Steve Murray cannon an effort against the post.

Yet equalise they did when O’Hare slotted in after a sudden but absolutely relentless spell from the visitors to stun the hosts.

Weymouth now face a replay at Street on Tuesday (7.45pm).

Terras: Seabright, Brooks, Buckley, Zubar, Sherring, McCarthy, Wakefield, Ngalo, Thomson, Goodship (Baker 76), Baggie.

Subs not used: Sa, Thomas, Carmichael, Molesley

Street: Punchard, Bennett, Tasker, Bailey (Herrod 84), McErlain, Hurley, Chainey (Butcher 46), O’Hare, Ormrod (Murray 70), Short, Foster.

Subs not used: Waldy, Rudge.

Referee: Matt Rushden

Attendance: 629