Terras Show Cup Fight
By Nigel Biddlecombe

Monday 26th September 2005

PLUCKY Weymouth came from behind twice to ensure they live another day in this season's FA Cup.

Brian Dutton and Kirk Jackson scored at league rivals Weston-super-Mare to maintain the Terras hopes of a moneyspinning run in the competition.

The two teams will do battle again in a replay at the Wessex Stadium tomorrow night for a place in the third qualifying round.

Garry Hill's outfit are now four games unbeaten but they must be kicking themselves not to have won this tie at the first attempt.

A host of chances to see off the Somerset hosts were squandered, including a missed penalty by Wayne Purser, and they were eventually grateful to Jackson's thumping 68th minute equaliser.

The Terras made one change from the side that defeated Newport County last weekend, Trevor Challis returning in place of lan Hutchinson - the unlucky veteran not even making the squad.

The visitors dominated the opening exchanges but failed to turn their superiority into goals.

Early chances fell to strike duo Jackson and Purser, but neither man could capitalise on them.

Weymouth were causing problems with balls into the penalty area, but they were still not finding a way to turn these into the goal they wanted.

Midway through the half Weston began to settle and Jason Matthews was called upon to cut out a dangerous cross from Lewis Hogg.

Frank Gregan's side stunned the Terras by taking a shock lead on 30 minutes when Dean Evans collected the ball on the halfway line and worked his way through Weymouth's back-pedalling defence to shot home from 25 yards.

The goal gave the home side the lift they needed and Matthews was quickly called upon to save from Matt Rawlins.

But two minutes before the interval the visitors deservedly got back on terms when Andy Harris's throw was helped on by Jackson for Dutton to bundle over the line from close range.

The half ended with Weymouth, in the ascendancy as they forced three quick corners in succession, but there was no further score.

Things continued in a similar vein after the interval as winger Steve Clark and Jackson combined to set up Purser but his shot didn't trouble Ryan Northmore in the Seagulls' goal.

And it was from the keeper's resulting clearance that the home side regained the lead in this topsyturvy tie.

Northmore found Hogg down the right who made ground and crossed into the area.

Matthews punched the centre away only to see the ball drop to Jon French who hammered home from 25 yards.

The setback sparked Weymouth back into life as Tony Taggart latched on to a Purser cross, but shot weakly wide and, just a minute later, Steve Tully's throw found Purser who was bundled over only for the referee to ignore claims for a penalty.

But on the hour the Terras were awarded a spot-kick when Lee Jarman pushed Purser.

The striker, who had latched on to a superb ball from Matt Bound before being fouled, took the kick himself but his weak effort was comfortably saved to his left by Northmore.

But it was Purser's strike partner Jackson who saved the former Peterborough star's blushes with a cracking equaliser eight minutes later.

Jackson found himself with room to take on and beat a flagging Jarman and place an unstoppable drive into the net from just inside the penalty area.

Hill introduced Chukki Eribenne and Darren Wheeler in place of Taggart and Purser moments after and the final 15 minutes saw both sides open up to try and find a winner but both defences held firm.

The best chance to settle it came deep in stoppage time and it fell to the Seagulls when Mark McKeever broke out of defence and fed Andy Robertson.

His superb pass found Hogg in space on the right of the six-yard box but the ex Bristol Rovers star drove across goal and, thankfully for the Terras, out of everyone's reach.