Weymouth advance as St Albans dismissed

WEYMOUTH 4

Wakefield 11, McCarthy 37 pen, Odubade 65, 87

ST ALBANS CITY 1

Banton 67

TWO-GOAL Yemi Odubade was undoubtedly the star of the show as Weymouth extended their unbeaten run to seven games in recording an emphatic 4-1 victory over St Albans for the second time in three weeks.

Indeed, the Terras’ passage to the final qualifying round of this year’s Emirates FA Cup looked very comfortable once Josh Wakefield had fired them in front as early as the 11th minute.

Jake McCarthy then gave the hosts a commanding half-time lead when he converted a somewhat fortuitous penalty and it was all but over when Odubade bagged the first of his second-half brace 20 minutes after the restart.

Saints netted a controversial goal of their own two minutes later through Zane Banton but the home side remained unruffled as they shut out their National League South rivals for the remaining 25 minutes and even added a fourth through Odubade to complete a classy victory.

There were two standout changes in the Terras’ starting line-up with both Stephane Zubar and Lionel Ainsworth dropping to a six-man bench in place of Wakefield and Cameron Murray respectively.

Straight on the front foot, the hosts fashioned a decent chance inside two minutes when a Calvin Brooks cross made its way to the back post but Abdulai Baggie had plenty of space and time only to see his early shot well blocked by Dean Snedker.

There was then a quiet five-minute spell before Ollie Harfield smashed a speculative 30-yarder just two feet over the bar, seconds before Solomon Nwabuokei attempted something similar at the other end that saw the ball fly harmlessly wide.

Weymouth then got the all-important opening goal 11 minutes in following a trademark run from Brooks down the right side of the box.

The jinking wing-back checked inside before picking out a run from Wakefield whose 18-yard sidefooted effort flew past Snedker via a deflection off Scott Shulton.

The next talking point saw Shulton and Ben Thomson both booked after a coming together, sparked by an alleged headbutt from the former, just before Saints were to enjoy a promising period of play.

First, Giuseppe Iaciofano tore forward from the halfway line, slipping between Andy Robinson and Shaun Hobson, only to see his final poked effort blocked by Calum Ward.

A minute later, an enterprising link-up between Nwabuokei and Banton saw Ward called into action again, this time to thwart the latter, moments before Iaciofano teed up Shulton who tried a 20-yard sidefooter that flew straight at the home keeper.

On the half-hour though Weymouth were back on the attack when Brooks picked out Murray whose header looked to be blocked by an arm.

The referee gave nothing but maybe his inaction at this point influenced his decision five minutes later when he awarded the hosts what looked a very soft penalty.

Snedker had punched away a corner that fell to Thomson who, working his way to the byline, was adjudged to have been fouled by Nwabuokei even though the defender looked to have won the ball cleanly.

Skipper McCarthy kept his composure following a minute’s protestations from Saints to calmly fire past Snedker from 12 yards, although the keeper did get a hand on the ball diving to his left.

In the latter stages of the first period, both Odubade and Baggie had double chances to extend the lead, but on both occasions, their initial shot was blocked before the follow-up sailed over the bar.

The first real opportunity of the second half fell to Murray who brought a flying save from Snedker to push his shot around the post having been set up by Thomson 11 minutes in.

A third goal was imminent though and it arrived in the 65th minute when Brooks fed Baggie down the right and the winger squared for Odubade to stroke home a composed finish that looked to have settled the tie there and then.

However, there was still work for the hosts to do as, just two minutes later, the Saints pulled a goal back in controversial circumstances.

Once again Shulton was at the centre of the action when his poor sliding tackle took out Andy Robinson on the edge of the visitors’ box, but the referee waved play on as the Saints countered and within seconds Banton had beaten an unsighted Ward from 20 yards, aided by a slight deflection.

Weymouth maintained focus despite this setback and looked to see out the remainder of the tie without further drama as Zubar came on to shore up the defence in place of Robinson.

However, Weymouth conjured late chances to complete the job with room to spare as they pressed for a fourth.

On 86 minutes, Odubade scuffed an effort from 12 yards that was easily gathered by Snedker, but seconds later the same man had completed a second-half double.

Returning Jordan Ngalo, who had replaced Ollie Harfield early in the second half, left Shulton for dead down the left flank as he cut in before sliding an inch-perfect low centre along the six-yard line for Odubade to net with aplomb at the back post to ease the Terras into the next round.

Terras: Ward, Harfield (Ngalo 55), Wakefield, McCarthy, Thomson (Williams 65), Baggie, Murray, Odubade, Robinson (Zubar 71 )Brooks, Hobson.

Subs not used: Rees, McQuoid, Ainsworth.

Saints: Snedker, Bender, Shulton, Longe-King, Kaloczi, Iaciofano (Foxley 78), Diedhiou, Banton, Nwabuokei, Georgiou (Merson 56), Sprague (Miles 33).

Subs not used: Howe, Bonfield, Noble, Adu.

Referee: Wayne Cartmel (Luton)

Attendance: 974