Weymouth's FA Cup win at Havant dares their fans to dream of a big draw

Those are the goosebump-inducing dreams Weymouth fans can now have after Ahkeem Rose’s winner handed them a spellbinding 2-1 victory at Havant & Waterlooville.

Victory over a side on a 13-game unbeaten run this season gave the Terras their first FA Cup main draw appearance since 2007.

To do it, they had to overcome a desperately poor record in the fourth qualifying round, a hurdle tripping up the Terras in each of their last seven attempts.

Most notable, and freshest, of those will have been the classic replay defeat to Yeovil last season, when just about every kind of drama unfolded.

READ MORE: Havant 1-2 Weymouth - match report

Losing to their biggest rivals on that day, Weymouth had a chance one year later to put things right against opponents of a milder animosity in Havant.

There was undoubtedly plenty of needle between the two sides – but more on that later.

While Weymouth went behind to Yeovil in both ties last season, here they took the lead in the seventh minute.

Teddy Howe charged down an attempted clearance and the ball fell to Rose, whose impudent backheel will be recorded as an assist after Howe buried a clinical finish high into the net for his first Terras goal.

Teddy Howe, right, is congratulated by his teammates after scoring against Havant Picture: DAVE HAINES (Image: DAVE HAINES)

In all the chaos of Weymouth’s celebrations at making the first round, Rose’s assist has somewhat been forgotten about.

However, it was a touch of quality that gave Weymouth fans more evidence of what they have been missing while their Jamaican star has been on and off the treatment table during his 13 months at the club.

Something else they have been missing is Jake McCarthy.

Since his move away from Weymouth, the Havant midfielder has upped his scoring rate and retained his ability to net long-range screamers.

And it took him less than 60 seconds to equalise against his old club, albeit from close range after Mo Faal had won the ball in Weymouth’s third and picked out his teammate for a simple finish.

Both teams huffed and puffed after that, perhaps understandably allowing the pace of the game to settle.

That was until James Roberts clattered a volley against the post, forcing brave keeper Zaki Oualah to dash out and save the rebound from makeshift striker Jamie Collins.

Weymouth enjoyed the clearest chances in the second half, defending tenaciously and with great heart – epitomised by characterful and battling performances by Dan Matsuzaka and Nathan Carlyle.

Their willingness to fling their bodies in front of any Havant shots did not go unnoticed as they manned Weymouth’s defence.

With that solid base, Weymouth saw Xander McBurnie test Ross Worner with a deflected strike, while new signing Mitchell Parker lashed wide after Roberts had drilled a good chance over.

This brings us back to that rivalry, which saw both sets of supporters segregated behind the right-hand goal.

Metal barriers had been placed between the fans, with around five to ten metres of terracing between them.

That did not stop unsavoury scenes in the 75th minute as the taunting, which had been growing all game, finally spilled over into a genuine risk of hooliganism.

Some of the barriers were mangled as each pocket of fans attempted to bridge the gap and start a fight.

Havant’s stewards must be commended for quickly diffusing a situation which had briefly brought the game to a halt – Weymouth nearly capitalising when play began.

The Terras caught Havant sleeping from the restart as sub Brad Ash got in behind and looked certain to score but for Worner’s sprawling save.

Ash’s miss prompted visible disgust from boss Bobby Wilkinson, who gesticulated in no uncertain terms that Ash had ‘got to score’.

Big chances kept coming for Weymouth as Keelan O’Connell powered a low cross agonisingly out of reach of Rose and Ash, who both hurled themselves at the ball without making contact on the stretch.

Ten minutes later, Weymouth were in dreamland. In truth, it was a gift from Havant as two mistakes cost them dearly.

Rose was presented possession with a wayward 30-yard pass from Havant’s left and, although the forward was tackled, O’Connell pinged a diagonal out to Tom Blair.

The winger’s cross looked to have missed its intended target but for the intervention of McCarthy, who was ordered to play at centre-back as Havant grappled with injuries and a change of tactics.

McCarthy could only fend off the cross tamely and Rose was able to pick up the pieces, controlling and driving home a terrific shot inside the far corner.

Ahkeem Rose, second right, scores the winner Picture: DAVE HAINES (Image: DAVE HAINES)

Rose wheeled away, throwing his shirt in the air and inviting his teammates to sprint from the dugout to join him in ecstasy.

Rose was booked for the celebration and another minute was added to injury-time, meaning Weymouth still had five minutes to see out.

Havant probed away but could not test Oualah as time and again the Terras’ defence came up with clearances, blocks and whatever else was needed to keep Havant at bay.

Their efforts, roared on by the magnificent travelling support, were finally rewarded after what seemed an age as referee Robert Claussen brought an end to the game.

Weymouth had lifted their hoodoo of 15 years and dared their supporters to dream again.