You beauty!
By Matt Pitman

Monday 7th November 2005

ANDY Harris declared 'we can win the replay' after earning Weymouth a dream share of the FA Cup spoils at Nottingham Forest.

The ex-Liverpool trainee headed a sensational 56th minute equaliser at the City Ground on Saturday.

Now the South African midfielder believes Garry Hill's giant-killers can take the scalp of the double European Cup winners and land a second round trip to Harris's former club, League Two Chester City.

He told Echosport: "We knew we could get a result here and I'm chuffed to bits to have scored.

"We fully deserved a draw and with another performance like this, there's no reason why we can't win the replay.

"To score our goal at the end where our supporters were was a fantastic feeling.

"Seeing nearly 2,000 Weymouth fans with happy faces was brilliant and it's a sight which will stick with me for a long time.

"The key to our success was sheer hard work. The fact Forest brought on a defender for a winger late in the game tells its own story and is a great compliment to the way we played.

Everyone was determined to enjoy the day but the last thing the players wanted was to come away from Forest on the wrong end of a hiding.

"It was always going to be a great occasion but getting such a good result has made it even more special."

Former Liverpool trainee Harris used to clean the boots of Neil 'Razor' Ruddock and his bullet header was' reminiscent of the ex-Anfield defender.

"The goal was a bit like the ones Razor used to score," he said.

"I've known him for ten years now and while I haven't spoken to him recently, I'm sure he'll be in touch once he sees the goal on the television.

"Shaun Wilkinson whipped in a fantastic ball and Roy O'Brien and Matt Bound took the big markers away. The ball dropped over Roy's head and found its way to me at the far post. "

"To be honest, I saw it quite late but managed to get a good contact and seeing it fly into the top corner was wonderful.

"The scenes which followed were incredible and showed just what this tie means to the people of Weymouth.

"They've been starved of success for so long and we're determined to have a good season and enjoy a few more days like this one."

Harris, who signed from Chester in the summer, added: "I didn't have the best of times up there and suffered a few injuries.

"We could have done with a home draw but if we get past Forest at least it gives me the opportunity to go up there and do well at my old club."

Kirk Jackson, who missed a great chance to win it for the Terras with a late header, described the occasion as 'very special'.

The striker, who lined-up against his best man Ian Breckin at the City Ground, said: "Playing against Liverpool for Yeovil in the third round of the cup a few years ago was huge for me, because I'm a Liverpool fan. But this means more because we got a result.

"Our supporters were incredible. I never heard the Forest fans at any point during the game, only ours. All I wish is that I could have stuck the header away to win it.

"Playing against Ian was strange, not because he's my mate but because he could easily have been playing in the Premiership this season with Wigan.

"To be honest I tried to keep away from him because he would have beaten me to nearly every aerial ball."

Wayne Purser was Weymouth's unluckiest player on the day - he was forced to miss out with a suspected blood clot on his eye.

"I was really disappointed to miss out but pleased for the lads all the same," he said.

"I'm not quite sure of the extent of the injury yet but I'm due to see a specialist later this week."

Weymouth's magnificent result at Forest was tinged with sadness after the death of club legend Phil Stocker.

The tough tackling defender, who went on to manage Bridport, passed away on Friday aged 72.