Dartford 1-0 Weymouth: Terras exit FA Trophy

Jebb 15

WEYMOUTH 0

WEYMOUTH were knocked out of the FA Trophy fourth round by lower-league Dartford as Jack Jebb’s quality strike proved the match-winner.

Dartford started busily and were rewarded when Jebb rasped a low shot home from 25 yards.

Weymouth’s best chance came in the 88th minute when Tyler Cordner was denied by a stunning Dan Wilks save.

In the first match after ex-boss Brian Stock’s exit, this was another off-colour performance from the Terras, who will be looking to appoint a new manager quickly in a bid to turn rapidly deteriorating fortunes around.

READ MORE: Dartford 1-0 Weymouth - how it happened

Interim boss Paul Maitland opted for two changes to the side that began the 1-0 loss to Southend United last Saturday.

Tom Blair dropped to the bench and midfielder Omar Mussa was missing from the squad entirely with an ankle knock.

In came returning winger Sean Shields and new strike signing Jordan Greenidge, who was released from Sky Bet League Two side Newport County last week.

Two extra subs in the FA Trophy allowed Weymouth to recall Xander McBurnie and Ahkeem Rose to the matchday squad for the first time since their loans to Wimborne.

Xander McBurnie returned to the matchday squad Picture: MARK PROBIN

Brad Ash was absent from the squad with an ankle injury, joining the cup-tied Tom Solanke, but goalkeeper Tommy Scott took a place in the dugout.

Weymouth were competing for a place in the last 16 and £5,250 in prize money but from the kick-off it appeared Dartford wanted the rewards more.

The Darts hounded Weymouth with their press and created numerous chances in the opening exchanges.

After seeing penalty appeals for a foul by Ben Morgan on Ade Azeez waved away, visiting goalkeeper Ross Fitzsimons made a double save from Azeez to preserve parity.

Jebb dumped a 25-yard free-kick into the wall before Weymouth’s first attack of any note saw Greenidge nod down for Brandon Goodship to volley just wide.

Seconds later, the Darts drew ahead when Jebb was given too much time to pick his spot from 25 yards, his low shot fizzing past Fitzsimons for 1-0.

Dartford continued to dominate without causing Fitzsimons to save and Weymouth replied when Josh McQuoid released Greenidge on the left, only for his ball to divert to keeper Dan Wilks off Goodship.

Fitzsimons survived a nervy clearance as Jake Robinson fired off target but Weymouth improved late in the half, denied by a couple of important claims from Wilks.

Weymouth finally forced Wilks into a meaningful save in the 42nd minute when McQuoid got a touch to Shields’ cross and Goodship poked at Wilks, earning a corner.

However, as has too often been the case this season, Shields’ delivery from the set-piece was straight at the keeper.

Shields’ end product was sharper for Greenidge two minutes later, but the ex-Omonia forward could not trouble Wilks before half-time.

Jordan Greenidge, right, was a handful up front for Weymouth Picture: MARK PROBIN

Weymouth came out with greater intent at the start of the half as Haji Mnoga’s shot flew over the bar.

Wilks and Fitzsimons traded saves – the latter a fine stop from Jebb – and Goodship headed wide from Mnoga’s searching ball as the chances kept coming.

Wilks was in stunning form to tip clear a Cordner header having seconds earlier pushed over Goodship’s dipping free-kick as Weymouth probed for a leveller.

Home tempers flared when Mnoga dashed into a heavy tackle on Jebb and McQuoid then won what was perceived to be a soft foul – leading to howls of derision from the Darts’ faithful.

Maitland turned to Blair in Weymouth’s first change on 78 minutes after Greenidge headed a Shields cross wide.

Andy Robinson tested Wilks, who caught the effort authoritatively, and Goodship again worked the Darts’ keeper after Blair did well to win a corner.

Azeez saw a chip ruled out for offside and thereafter Weymouth pressured the hosts in the closing stages.

In the 88th minute, Weymouth were denied from their clearest opportunity of the game as Ollie Harfield’s corner was headed goalwards by Cordner, only for Wilks to work wonders again.

Tyler Cordner was denied late on for Weymouth Picture: MARK PROBIN

From the resulting corner, Morgan hooked back into the box and Blair blazed over.

Two more corners followed in the six minutes of added time but Ollie Harfield’s delivery was straight at Wilks and the second was strangely taken short, forcing Cameron Murray back up the pitch to Mnoga who wildly fired off target.

His effort summed up another modest display from Weymouth, who slid to an eighth defeat in nine games across all competitions.

Dartford: Wilks, Clarke, Innocent, Husin (Wynter 65), Essam, Bonner, Kalala (Vint 76), Murtagh, J Robinson (Porter 77), Jebb, Azeez. Subs not used: Leonard, Hyde, Theobalds, Wanadio.

Terras: Fitzsimons, Morgan (Rose 89), Cordner, Goodship, McQuoid (Blair 78), Mnoga, A Robinson, Murray, Harfield, Greenidge, Shields. Subs not used: Scott, McBurnie, Bearwish, Taylor-Crossdale, Olomowewe.

Attendance: 725