Second round beckons for Terras
By Adam Summers

WEYMOUTH survived a late scare to move into the second round of the FA Trophy at the Bob Lucas Stadium on Saturday.

Goals from Craig Duff and Warren Byerley saw the Terras take full control of the tie until the final stages when Alan Griffin’s late reply set up a grandstand finish.

Chippenham threw men forward and forced several corners in added-time but some resolute defending from the hosts eventually saw them hold on. Stephen Reed was recalled to the Terras’ starting XI, replacing Lewis Tasker, and there was also a change on the bench where Mitch Conning came in for Ryan McKechnie.

Discounting last Tuesday night’s drubbing against Swindon Super-marine in the Wiltshire Premier Shield, when they fielded their youngsters, Chippenham came into the game boasting a 13-game unbeaten record.

And with Weymouth also full of confidence following back-to-back victories over Havant & Waterlooville and Leamington, an enthralling encounter appeared to be on the cards.

However, both teams cancelled each other out in the early exchanges until Sam Malsom put Byerley through on 14 minutes.

The in-form striker, aiming to add to his tally of eight goals in the previous seven games, looked odds on to break the deadlock but a moment’s hesitation and an unsuccessful bid to round keeper Will Puddy let the Bluebirds off the hook.

The visitors then responded with a 20-yard effort from Andy Sandell, which flew just inches wide, before Duff had a header saved at the other end following a fine cross from Scott Dixon.

There was then another lull in play before Weymouth took the lead just eight minutes before the break.

Boss Brendon King was almost apoplectic when he saw centre-back Sam Poole venture over to take a throw-in in the attacking third, following a clearance from a corner, but he need not have worried.

The young defender made a quick exchange with Malsom before delivering a superb ball into the box where Duff escaped his marker and nodded in from close range to the delight of the home fans behind the goal.

The Bluebirds were offering very little in attack but on 49 minutes they were nearly gifted an equaliser when Tom Manley flapped at a corner and handed a great chance to Greg Tindle whose snapshot from 10 yards rattled the crossbar.

That immediately shook the Terras back into action and two minutes later they won their fourth penalty in eight games when Duff’s cross from the right cannoned off the hand of Shaun Lamb.

The assistant-referee at that end of the field immediately flagged for the spot-kick and Byerley made no mistake two minutes later, sending Puddy the wrong way.

Weymouth were now looking comfortable and on 69 minutes they nearly grabbed another when a marauding run from Ollie Tribe down the right saw the young full-back send over a wonderful cross to the near post where Matt Groves just failed to direct it on target.

Ashley Williams then went close with a stunning strike from 25 yards for the visitors but the Terras remained in control until two minutes from the end when a momentary lapse allowed Chippenham to make it a tense finale.

No one tracked an overlapping run from Tindle and when he received possession and drove the ball across from the by-line there was Griffin to turn it into the net from six yards.

Suddenly the hosts were under pressure as Chippenham threw everything forward in added-time in a desperate bid to force a replay but fine last-ditch defending kept them at bay.