Havant & Waterlooville 1-2 Weymouth: Ahkeem Rose creates FA Cup history for Terras

McCarthy 8

WEYMOUTH 2

Howe 7, Rose 90+1

WEYMOUTH ended a 15-year wait to reach the FA Cup first round by beating Havant & Waterlooville 2-1 away thanks to a 91st-minute winner from Ahkeem Rose.

Teddy Howe’s first goal for the club had earlier been swiftly cancelled out by ex-Weymouth midfielder Jake McCarthy in the first half.

Critically, injuries forced McCarthy into defence in the second period and it was from his mistake that Rose pounced in stoppage-time as Weymouth reached the main draw for the first time since 2007/08.

Looking to write himself into Terras’ folklore, Weymouth boss Bobby Wilkinson made three changes to the side that began the 5-1 loss to Eastbourne last weekend.

READ MORE: Havant 1-2 Weymouth - how it happened

The injured Ben Gerring missed out, while Keelan O'Connell and Brad Ash dropped to the bench.

In came returning skipper Xander McBurnie plus new striker signings Mitchell Parker and Josh Oyinsan for their debuts.

Weymouth named seven subs on the bench, with O'Connell and top-scorer Ash joined by Tyler Forbes, Matt Burrows, the returning Cam Murray, Frankie Monk and goalkeeper Harrison Bruton.

Luke Nippard and Gerring were in attendance in the stands despite their injuries, as was Sami Bessadi, deemed fit enough for the squad.

Back in the 2018/19 season, Wilkinson was boss at Wealdstone and Doswell was in the 10th year of his spell at Sutton. Their teams met in the FA Cup fourth qualifying round, in a hugely dramatic tie.

Wealdstone won a 90th-minute penalty and missed it, allowing Sutton to break upfield and score the winner.

Before kick-off, it remained the joint-furthest Wilkinson has been in the competition as manager, although he must have been dreaming of the first round after a stunning start by Weymouth at Havant.

The Terras scored the opening goal in the seventh minute as Howe charged down a clearance, allowing Rose to run on to it.

Rose backheeled into the path of Howe and the right-back surged into the area before sending a high finish past Ross Worner into the roof of the net.

Teddy Howe, right, put Weymouth ahead Picture: DAVE HAINES (Image: DAVE HAINES)

However, Weymouth’s lead lasted less than 60 seconds as Mo Faal blocked a clearance and then picked out McCarthy, who had the simple task of slotting home from 12 yards into an empty net to score against his former club.

Thereafter, Havant enjoyed the greater possession as Oscar Gobern skied a shot over before Tom Bearwish scrambled clear a free-kick.

Havant then got through down the left as Joe Newton glided past Howe before finding makeshift striker Jamie Collins, who bundled behind for a goal-kick.

Weymouth responded when Tom Blair spread play to Parker, who in turn found Howe on the overlap. The right-back’s cross picked out Rose but his header was powered wide.

With 12 minutes to go until the break, Havant went desperately close to 2-1 as Jamie Roberts slammed a volley against the post and Zaki Oualah did well to deny Collins’ follow-up.

Havant applied real pressure towards the end of the half but could not find a second as Joe Oastler’s header looped onto the roof of the net before half-time.

Weymouth again started the half strongly as Harry Kyprianou’s shot took a big deflection for a corner, with Nathan Carlyle’s hooked effort easily cleared by the Hawks.

Weymouth continued to press as McBurnie’s deflected effort produced a splendid save by a backpeddling Worner.

Havant gave a reminder of their quality when a lovely one and two-touch move enabled Roberts to drill over, but Weymouth should have gone 2-1 up when Parker lashed wide a clear opening 60 seconds later.

Havant then made three subs in five minutes, forcing McCarthy into central defence, while Weymouth reached for top-scorer Ash, ending Oyinsan’s debut.

Weymouth really should have gone 2-1 up as Havant appeared distracted by a disturbance among the segregated fans with 14 minutes remaining.

Play suddenly restarted as Ash bore down on goal, Worner out smartly to block his effort as the striker wasted the chance.

Weymouth’s second sub O’Connell then jinked into the area and fired across goal, Rose and Ash throwing themselves at the ball but unable to make contact.

Crucially, Rose did make a clinical contact in the 91st minute.

He pounced on a loose ball from defence by Havant and, although tackled, O’Connell then spread play to Blair.

His cross appeared to be harmless but McCarthy stuck out a lazy foot and Rose controlled before slamming home just inside the far corner to spark bedlam in the away end.

Ahkeem Rose, left, turns away to celebrate after scoring the winner at Havant Picture: DAVE HAINES (Image: DAVE HAINES)

Weymouth had to survive massive pressure in the closing stages but defended heroically to create club history.

Havant: Worner, Passley, Newton Oastler, Nembhard (Burnett 71), McCarthy, Clifford, Collins (Kalinauskas 66), Gobern (Crichlow 67), Roberts, Faal. Subs not used: Magri, Read.

Terras: Oualah, Howe, Kyprianou, McBurnie, Matsuzaka, Carlyle, Parker (O’Connell 74), Rose (Burrows 90+5), Bearwish, Blair, Oyinsan (Ash 63). Subs not used: Forbes, Murray, Monk, Bruton.

Referee: Robert Claussen