WEYMOUTH SPORTS 0, WEYMOUTH 5

WEYMOUTH Sports exited the Dorset Senior Cup with their heads held high at the Wessex Stadium, last night.

The tiny Combination League outfit gave a battling display against a full-strength Terras side who currently lie more than 75 places above them in non-League football's pecking order.

True, the margin of victory would have been a lot higher had it not been for the heroics of on-loan goalkeeper Gavin Bates, but nonetheless manager Adie Chance was proud of his team's performance.

"I'm delighted," he said. "There's even a case for being a bit disappointed because I thought a couple of their goals were a touch fortunate, but overall I can't fault my lads for effort and commitment. Not once did they stop running or closing down and full credit to Gavin for a wonderful showing in goal.

"I wanted the boys to be able to walk round the town with their heads in the air after this and that's exactly what they can now go and do.

Sports gave it plenty of huff and puff from the kick-off but when Ian Hutchinson stole in to convert Darran Rowbotham's neat lay off on six minutes, Chance must have feared the worse.

But despite enjoying sack loads of possession, the cup favourites only had that single strike to show for all their domination at the break.

Martin Underhay was guilty of wasting at least three gilt-edged opportunities early on, while Bates pulled off a couple of excellent stops with the best coming from Kevin Parker's drive on the run.

The underdogs meanwhile fought for their lives during that opening period although a sliced Darren Tizard drive from the edge of the box was the closest they came to troubling Danny Potter.

Weymouth continued to show their class after the interval but again they were continually thwarted by a mix of dogged defending and confident handling by an inspired Bates.

But more Terras goals were always on the cards and Rowbotham hung his head in shame after missing a sitter in the 57th minute.

Weymouth eventually doubled their advantage bang on the hour when Sports skipper Andy Miles was unluckily penalised for a back pass just inside his own six-yard area. With Underhay looking odds on to have a go, up stepped Hutchinson to smash the ball home through a sea of yellow shirts positioned on the goal line.

The introduction of David Laws and Lee Phillips immediately bolstered the Terras attacking options and it was Laws who set up Mark Rawlinson, only for Bates to save brilliantly with his feet.

Phillips then forced another excellent near post stop from the Sports' number one after he'd decided to go it alone while an unmarked Laws screamed for a cross in vain.

Weymouth's third came on 77 minutes courtesy of a Phillip's half-volley from 15-yards and Laws beat the offside trap straight from the restart to net number four.

At the other end Chris Armstrong and Gerry De Le Planque both had tame efforts easily dealt with by Potter and it was left to Laws to wrong-foot Bates and Gary Klust in the danger zone after Phillips had delivered from the right flank in the very last minute of the game.

Terras boss Andy Mason said: "I thought Sports did really well and kept on biting and closing us down for the full 90 minutes. They can take plenty of credit from the tie, as can our boys for the way they handled what was a no win situation.

"But I'm glad to have this one out of the way and even more pleasing is that we've come through it without any injuries."

* Weymouth Reserves entertain Bemerton Heath in a Jewson Wessex Combination League fixture at the Wessex Stadium tonight, kick-off 7.45pm.

Terras: Gadsby, Wisden, Graham, Bastafield, M Walker, Lamb, Lambert, S Critchell, Nicholson, Bews, Dolbear, Mutch, Aldous, Steele, K Critchell, N Walker.