Wednesday October 20th 2004

WEYMOUTH'S interest in this season's FA Cup competition ended as they were knocked out by Southern League Division One West underdogs Thame United at Windmill Stadium last night.

On Saturday, in the first game, Weymouth were lucky to get another bite at the cherry with player-manager Steve Claridge equalising five minutes from time after Jon Gardner had fired Thame in front.

But their luck ran out last night as Thame turned up the pressure on Claridge's position with a shock win.

Weymouth's supporters must have thought their side would finish the job, but Thame had other ideas with a barrage of excellent free-kicks from Nando Perna and Tony Joyce leaving Weymouth's keeper Francisco Ramos flapping at thin air.

The Terras defence were also guilty of failing to clear their lines properly, with Nathan Bunce in particular, having a torrid time against the pace of John Mitchell and fellow striker Gardner.

Terras frontman Chukki Eribenne did cause Thame a number of problems with his pace and close control.

On 20 minutes the game sprang into life when West's header from Perna's corner beat Ramos, only to come back off the left-hand post.

Pinpoint

Three minutes later, though, Weymouth fell asleep at the back, allowing a raking pass from defender Jon Mills to release striker John Mitchell, who beat the keeper before slotting home.

But four minutes later Weymouth were back level when skipper Paul Buckle
headed home Lee Charles's pinpoint cross at the far post.

Minutes later, the hosts thought they had won a penalty when their player-boss Mark West appeared to be tripped, but the referee waved away the appeal, as he did when Eribenne went sprawling in Thame's area.

After the break, Weymouth turned up the heat, with Lee Phillips heading wide, before Thame won a succession of corners.

At the other end, Peter Weirich, who was outstanding in Thame's defence, cleared Simon Browne's shot off the line, before keeper Steve Smith kept out Buckle's goal-bound shot with his feet.

Weymouth must have realised it wasn't going to be their night.

And so it proved ten minutes from time when Gardner headed in the winner from Perna's cross to send Thame through and Weymouth crashing
out of the Cup.

Weymouth: Francisco Ramos, Steve Tully, Simon Browne (Paul Gibbs 73mins), Nathan Bunce, Dave Waterman (Steve Claridge 82mins), Lee Charles, Paul Buckle, Chukki Eribenne, Adam Wilde, Ian Hutchinson (Martin Barlow 82mins), Lee Phillips

Subs: Lee Philpott, Robbie Pethick

Thame United: Steve Smith, Jon Mills, Tony Joyce, Peter Weirich, Martin Avery, Justin Merritt, Jon Gardener, Nando Perna, John Mitchell, Mark West (Tom Goffe 88mins), Alex Stewart

Subs not used: Jonny Wilson, Lewis Foster, Daren Moore, John Death

Referee:

Bookings:

Weymouth: None

Thame United: None