Weymouth and Yeovil prove FA Cup magic still exists

Two full-blooded ties between fierce West County rivals produced one winner – Yeovil Town.

For Weymouth fans, the result will sting like antiseptic poured into a bleeding cut.

For Yeovil supporters, the ecstasy of a first-round place and bragging rights over their enemies will live long in the memory.

Their joy, and Weymouth’s devastation, is all part of the spell the FA Cup casts over us as football fans every season.

Across 219 of the most electric, captivating and energy-sapping minutes – plus penalties – the two ties had everything.

Rewind to Saturday and a bouncing Huish Park, especially the Thatchers Stand, played host to a thriller in Somerset.

READ MORE: Weymouth 1-1 Yeovil Town AET (Yeovil win 2-1 on pens) - match report

Tom Bearwish, left, is challenged by Jordan Barnett Picture: MARK PROBIN

Build-up to the first FA Cup game between these two old foes had been feverish, laced with needle and a war of words among both sets of supporters.

When it came to the day itself, fans were treated to a raucous atmosphere as Yeovil made the quicker start, Charlie Wakefield scoring an early goal.

Yeovil had more chances to open a 2-0 lead as Matt Worthington and the constant threat of Tom Knowles’ long throws kept Weymouth at bay.

The Terras were unfazed, though. Calvin Brooks saw a golden chance go to waste as Weymouth began to dominate.

Their ascendancy gathered momentum in the second half as Sean Shields and Brad Ash were denied.

For all their good play, Weymouth looked to be heading out until Tom Bearwish tapped home in the 94th minute on his 22nd birthday.

Disbelief on the Yeovil bench, elation in the Weymouth dugout.

And glistening in the sun was a sprinkling of FA Cup magic, transfixing us into a replay.

Conditions for the second tie could not have been more different.

Buffeting wind and billowing rain saturated the Bob Lucas Stadium playing surface. As if the players didn’t have enough to deal with already.

The pressure cooker atmosphere generated by almost 3,000 fans; The £9,375 in prize money on offer plus a place in the first round proper; Not to mention local bragging rights.

All those chips were on the table as Yeovil again took the lead, this time through a fine Worthington goal.

But this match just felt different, like there was always a twist around the corner.

Brandon Goodship celebrates Josh McQuoid's equaliser Picture: MARK PROBIN

So it proved when the script deprived Yeovil by means of another late leveller, Josh McQuoid heading home a shapely Ollie Harfield cross to spark Terras jubilation.

While there had been a melee, dodgy slide tackles, pushing and shoving, bitter words exchanged, it was McQuoid’s goal that transformed the whole feeling inside the ground.

Suddenly, the magic of the Cup had arrived again.

Weymouth had chances to win the tie there and then. Josef Yarney was well-placed in the box before a heavy touch let him down.

McQuoid then sent a tame left-footed shot at keeper Grant Smith after a blistering counter-attack.

READ MORE: Weymouth 1-1 Yeovil Town AET (Yeovil win 2-1 on pens) - how it happened

Extra-time was needed but that was OK.

Already deep in a footballing high, we were given another 34 minutes of sporting purity.

The first period of extra-time had been simmering until an adamant Joe Quigley appealed for a goal an irate Yeovil felt had been missed by the officials.

Weymouth crosses rained in on the Yeovil box almost as heavily as the elements in the second period.

Shields had a shot deflected behind, while Harfield’s cross skimmed off a defender and tested Smith at his near post.

Smith’s catch was a mere hors d'oeuvre for the save that was to follow as he somehow thrust a glove out to deny the clean-through Brandon Goodship in the 119th-minute.

Goodship couldn’t believe it and neither could we – even then the Cup still gave us more.

Yarney slid to block a shot as Weymouth fended off another Yeovil attack, the ball appearing to strike his arm.

Sunny Gill had a decision to make. The referee had waved play on for at least three similar ball-to-hand incidents in the previous 120 minutes.

To Weymouth’s horror, he dispensed with consistency and awarded a penalty.

Up stepped Yeovil’s penalty expert Quigley to send Yeovil through, surely?

Not yet. Ross Fitzsimons guessed correctly and pulled off a majestic save, tipping the ball round the far post for a corner.

It brought the biggest noise of the night from Weymouth’s gallows, but penalties loomed.

Dale Gorman scores a penalty for Yeovil Picture: MARK PROBIN

Taken in front of the Yeovil fans, Weymouth missed five with one retaken and scored by Tyler Cordner.

McQuoid hit the post, Cordner blazed over before scoring, Shields was denied by Smith, Andy Robinson rattled the bar.

Yeovil were not much better, Dale Gorman and Adi Yussuf netting before a horrible shank from Tom Knowles which smacked a steward in the head, so wide was the spot-kick.

With Yeovil leading 2-1, the shootout boiled down to Goodship. When he skied his kick, Yeovil were through.

The FA Cup had delivered again – and try telling any of the 3,000 people there that it hadn’t.

Because for all the disdain shown to this competition by the big Premier League teams in recent years, this national treasure of a cup competition still means the world to England’s smaller clubs.

Whether it be a fairy-tale tie against a Premier League giant, a dream trip to Wembley or a passionate derby, the FA Cup provides fans with dreams.

Those dreams are sometimes realised and there is only one explanation: The magic of the FA Cup still exists.