Purser ends 20-year wait
By Matt Pitman

Monday 24th October 2005

SUPER Weymouth finally ended 20 years of FA Cup hurt with a stunning display against Cambridge United.

First half goals from Kirk Jackson and Wayne Purser earned the Terras a giant-killing win over their Nationwide Conference opponents, who just six months ago were playing League football.

After securing a first round place in the competition for the first time since 1985, Weymouth's long-suffering supporters probably thought it couldn't get any better.

But it did. Just 20 minutes after the final whistle came news that Garry's Hill's heroes had been drawn away to double European Cup winners Nottingham Forest next month.

And how the Terras deserved that reward after this terrific performance in which every player did their bit.

Keeper Jason Matthews kept Cambridge United at bay with a couple of stunning saves, while skipper Matt Bound and his fellow defenders were strong under severe pressure from the visitors. Andy Harris and ex-United player Brian Dutton snapped away in midfield, while hard-working winger Lee Elam showed flashes of brilliance.

And up front, scorers Jackson and Purser combined to earn a deserved standing ovation from the home crowd.

Weymouth, for whom Chukki Eribenne failed a late fitness test on a knee injury, had the visitors on the ropes from the off.

Inside two minutes, recalled Steve Clark picked out Purser whose close range header drew a great save from United keeper Scott Howie.

After that early scare, Rob Newrnan's side, for whom ex-Terra Ritchie Hanlon failed to make an impact, hit back and nearly opened the scoring moments later.

Winger Parys Okai cut inside and fired in a left-footed drive from 25-yards which - Matthews superbly tipped on to the bar. But it was the Terras who pressed and the hosts deservedly took the lead on 19 minutes.

Harris's inswinging free kick from the left touchline caused all manner of problems in a crowded Cambridge area.

Howie made a hash of attempting to claim and as it bounced of his chest, there was Jackson to tuck home from six-yards out.

Elam's goalbound shot was then blocked before at the other end, Matthews cut out Craig Westcarr's dangerous cross.

Play was swinging from end to end and midway through the half, United's Matt Nolan went down in the area under a challenge by defender Trevor Challis but
referee Mike Mullarkey was unimpressed.

The visitors continued to threaten and it took some more good keeping by Matthews to keep Weymouth ahead, turning Westcarr's crashing free-kick around a post.

Purser nearly capitalised when Howie's clearance thumped against him before Cambridge pulled level two minutes before the break.

Stephen Smith's left wing corner found defender Mark Peters who crashed his header past Matthews from 12 yards.

The goal could easily have rocked the Terras but, to their credit, the hosts immediately hit back.

After Purser flashed a low drive just wide, Hill's men regained the lead in first-half stoppage time. Elam once again used his pace to good effect, breaking this time down the right, and his steered cross was tucked away by Purser from close range.

Weymouth continued where they left off after the interval, looking dangerous particularly through the excellent Elam.

It took a good last-ditch tackle by Peters to deny the flying winger before Hill replaced Steve Clark with Shaun Wilkinson.

Cambridge introduced top scorer Fola Onibuje from the bench on 57 minutes and Newman's switch almost had an immediate impact when the giant striker headed at Matthews.

Onibuje, who measures six feet six, proved a real handful for Bound and company as United started to turn the screw.

The Terras were fuming when Steve Tully's cross appeared to strike Michael Morrison's arm, but no penalty was given.

With time running out, the pres-sure increased on the home defence and it took a good headed clearance by Challis to deny the lurking Onibuje an equaliser on
72 minutes.

Dutton nearly settled Weymouth's nerves with a flick header before Purser seized
on substitute Mark Angel's loose ball to net, only to be flagged off-side.

Matthews then proved the hero for Weymouth during a nail-biting final ten minutes.

Westcarr controlled a flick-on, nipped through and looked favourite to tuck past the Terras keeper to make it 2-2.

But the stretching Matthews somehow reached to get enough of a hand on Westcarr's effort to keep it out, to the delight of the home crowd.

Defender Simon Downer replaced striker Purser in a bid to shore up the defence with seconds left.

Cambridge had a couple of chances to rescue a replay in the four minutes of stoppage time. Substitute Paul Atkins' deflected shot was comfortably saved by
Matthews, Smith fired over and Peters' last-gasp header was off target.

Then came referee Mullarkey's final whistle, met with wild scenes of celebration as Hill and his players chalked up a famous victory.