Join the Terras' hall of fame
By Adam Summers
Thursday 12th January 2012
WEYMOUTH’S current crop of stars will be remembered
for years to come if they topple Alfreton Town in the second
round of the FA Trophy this Saturday (3pm) according to player-assistant-manager
Matt Groves.
The home tie is without doubt the club’s biggest cup
game since the FA Cup first round double-header against Bury
in 2006 and the importance of it is certainly not lost on
the experienced forward who fully appreciates the opportunity
it presents.
Groves, who only went past the second round of the FA Trophy
once (2003/04) in 12 seasons at Dorchester Town, told Echosport:
“This Saturday is a chance for the players to make a
real mark and cement all the good work we have done over the
last three or four months.
“It is also an opportunity for them to become heroes
and be remembered for years to come and those sorts of occasions
do not come along often.
“Alfreton are two leagues above us in the Blue Square
Premier so it is going to be tough, there is no doubt about
that, but if we can continue the home form we have had in
recent weeks and remain nice and solid there is no reason
why we cannot pull it off.”
The Terras are the only Southern League outfit left in the
competition and with £6,000 and a place in the last
16 up for grabs, Groves is hoping a big crowd will turn out
and get behind the team.
He added: “It would be a massive bonus if we could fill
the terraces as it would really give the players a huge lift.
Not only that but it would also make it really intimidating
for the opposition.”
The Terras have so far seen off AFC Totton, Thatcham Town,
Havant & Waterlooville and Chippenham Town in this season’s
competition, which began for them on October 22.
The last time they won through four stages in the Trophy
was as a Dr Martens Premier Division club back in 2000/01
when they reached the fifth round, only to lose 2-1 against
Southport. They also made it to the fourth round back in 2003/04.
2000/01 (Dr Martens Premier Division)
R1 Sutton United (h) 2-1 Robinson, Hale
R2 Hitchin Tn (h) 2-0 Robinson, Laws
R3 Dagenham & Red (a) 1-0 Phillips
R4 Ashford Tn (h) 3-1 Laws, D Rowbotham, Phillips
R5 Southport (h) 1-2 Laws
2003/04 (Dr Martens Premier Division)
R1 Merthyr Tydfil (h) 5-2 Buckle, Claridge (2), Nightingale,
Partridge
R2 Ashford Town (h) 3-3 Partridge, Buckle, Claridge
Rep Ashford Town (a) 3-1 Claridge (2), Phillips
R3 Lewes (a) 8-5 Claridge (2), Buckle, Nightingale (3), Phillips
(2)
R4 Altrincham (h) 0-2
2011/12 (Southern League Premier Division)
1Q AFC Totton (h) 3-2 Byerley (2), Malsom
2Q Thatcham Tn (a) 1-1 Beasley
Rep Thatcham Tn (h) 6-1 Malsom 2, Byerley 3, Beasley
3Q Havant & W (h) 0-0
Rep Havant & W (a) 2-0 Groves, Byerley
R1 Chippenham Tn (h) 2-1 Byerley, Duff
R2 Alfreton Tn (h)
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