WEYMOUTH 3

Malsom 11, Duff 47, Groves 72

HUNGERFORD TOWN 3

Draycott 36, pen 50, Hopper 42

TEN-MAN Weymouth showed tons of character to snatch a replay at the Bob Lucas Stadium on Saturday.

All appeared lost for the Terras when Mark Draycott made it 3-2 from the spot early in the second half following the dismissal of Ben Gerring but somehow the hosts fought back to level through Matt Groves with 18 minutes remaining.

The FA Cup second qualifying round tie was another rollercoaster ride of emotions for Weymouth boss Brendon King but although he was clearly disappointed with the three goals his side conceded, he had nothing but praise for his players’ never-say-die attitude.

He said: “At 1-0 up we should have gone on to finish them off but they then got a bit of luck in the box to level and after that our heads dropped a bit.

“We then conceded a second quickly after that through a catalogue of errors and suddenly we found ourselves 2-1 down.

“We had been playing some neat stuff up until then and I told the boys at half-time just to be patient and continue in the same way, and two minutes into the second half we equalised.

“However, one of their lads then got the wrong side of Gerring a minute later and got him sent off by craftily grabbing his shirt and going over in the box.

“They tucked away the penalty and at that point I thought it was going to be one of those cruel days again but the lads refused to give up and got their reward with Matt’s equaliser.

“The character they showed to carry on competing for 40 minutes in hot conditions after going down to 10 was just fantastic and hopefully now we can go on and win the replay.”

King made three changes to his starting line-up with Ollie Tribe, Stephen Reed and Matt Groves replacing Ryan Murray, Mitch Conning and Ryan McKechnie, who all dropped to the bench.

Reed joined Byron Napper in the heart of the midfield and Craig Duff began on the right as Weymouth set a good tempo from the outset and deservedly took the lead on 11 minutes when Sam Malsom cut in from the left and unleashed a fierce drive from 20 yards to beat Reading loanee Stuart Moore.

Unbeaten Hungerford responded with Luke Hopper breaking through on 25 minutes but a wonderful last-ditch tackle from Sam Poole soon inspired the Terras to take hold of the game once again.

However, after Byerley and Duff had both gone close, the hosts were hit with a sucker punch on 36 minutes when Tribe needlessly went to ground allowing Nicholas Ogbanufe to battle past Gerring and set up Draycott for a simple tap-in.

It was a poor goal to concede and just six minutes later the Terras let in another one when Matt Jack’s cross from the right caught the home defence flat-footed allowing Draycott to head the ball back across goal for Hopper to hammer home from a couple of yards.

The hosts were stunned and with Gerring entering the book for lambasting team-mate Scott Dixon, the signs did not look good.

However, the Terras came out after the break and within two minutes were level again when Duff headed in a cross from Napper after his initial effort had been saved.

Everyone in claret and blue went wild but the jubilation lasted barely a minute as Hopper raced through at the other end and was hauled down in the box by last-man Gerring, giving referee Andy Laver no other option but to point to the spot and produce a straight red card.

It was a hammer blow for Wey-mouth and when Draycott eventually sent Manley the wrong way with his spot-kick on 50 minutes it appeared everything was starting to go the Crusaders’ way.

Hopper and Ogbanufe were then denied by Manley before Duff ghosted around the back at a free-kick at the other end and set up Groves, who was unable to force the ball in from close range.

Manley then pulled off another fine save to keep out Dean Stow’s header as Town went in search of a killer fourth but this time it was their turn to be caught out with Groves sweeping the ball home from a fine through ball from Byerley with 18 minutes remaining.

Town were adamant that Groves was offside and immediately hit back by going on the offensive but Manley provided the barrier yet again with another superb point-blank block to keep out an effort from Ogbanufe.

Both teams then saw headers fly over the bar as the game eventually ended all square with the rematch set for Buplit Lane tomorrow night (7.45pm).

Terras: Manley, Tribe, Dixon, Gerring, Poole, Napper, Duff, Reed (Conning 84), Malsom, Byerley, Groves (McKechnie 84). Subs not used: Murray Marshallsay.

Hungerford: Moore, Wheeldon, Jack, Boardman, Day, Brewer, Stow, Gosling, Hopper, Draycott (Murphy 79), Ogbanufe (Bamba 79). Subs not used: Davis, Goodger, Fila.

Tecan Man of the Match Sponsor: Craig Duff.

* The Terras are running a supporters’ coach to Hungerford tomorrow. It will leave the Bob Lucas Stadium at 4pm and the cost is £17 for adults and £12 for children.

It will also pick up fans at Tesco in Dorchester at 4.20pm. To find out more contact Jamie Austin on 07824663649 or email james7wfc@live.co.uk