WEYMOUTH 0 BRAINTREE TOWN 0

WEYMOUTH will have to do it all again in a replay at Braintree Town on Tuesday night, but nevertheless, they are in the hat for the first round draw of this year’s FA Cup.

Giving up two tiers of the footballing pyramid to their opponents, the Terras were on top during a gritty opening period, but their Essex-based counterparts roared back and showed their pedigree with a barrage of second half chances which they could not put away.

Manager Jason Matthews made just one change from the XI that secured a priceless win at Dunstable in the league last time out, with George Rigg coming back into the side and Steve Colwell making way to take a place on the bench.

There was also a place among the replacements for midfielder Jamie Beasley, after impressing in the Red Insure Cup against Dorchester last week.

And with just three minutes on the clock, Tim Sills had a golden chance to draw first blood for the hosts, arguably the home side’s best of the game.

Following a foul on Adam Kelly, Sills wasn’t picked up by the visitors and almost didn’t expect Chris Shephard’s dangerous free-kick to find him, and from all of five yards, the striker side-footed wide of the post.

Strike partner Stewart Yetton then linked up well with Ashley Wells to hit the first shot on target, but it was comfortably gathered by Nick Hamann in the visiting goal.

But with the Terras seeing most of the ball for the opening quarter of the contest, Braintree showed their threat on the counter and came inches from breaking the deadlock.

Iron winger Dan Walker was persistent to force a mistake from Wells and go one-on-one with Matthews, and the Terras’ goalkeeper was a spectator as the ball beat him and rolled narrowly wide.

Chances at both ends then followed with 35 minutes gone, as bustling frontman Simeon Akinola tested Matthews at his near post and seconds later Yetton flashed the ball across the Braintree six-yard area, where George Rigg was steaming in, but was unable to get a touch as the sides entered the break deadlocked.

The home side were then given two scares within six minutes of the restart as Akinola shrugged off two men from a routine long ball and Matthews got down well to deny him.

Walker then poked the ball just off target, as the Iron began to show their credentials.

Powerful striker Akinola was then allowed to stroll through the Terras’ backline again and hit a stinging effort at goal, and although it failed to trouble Matthews, he went berserk at the back four for allowing the frontman so much room. 

Braintree's chances continued to flow as Weymouth then survived a free-kick right on the edge of their area, and cries for a handball from the away side were waved away by referee Adam Hopkins.

Kelly provided a short moment of respite as he volleyed into the side-netting and Shephard did his best to work some magic in the latter stages.

The playmaker was chopped down on the edge of the area, and picked himself up to whip a free-kick over the away side’s wall, but the attempt was straight into the clutches of Hamann.

But if Weymouth have anyone to thank for their place in the hat for the first round, they have to show their gratitude to Braintree’s Jordan Cox.

With the home side stretched, he had the goal at his mercy after a cross came over at the back post, and the whole of the crowd looked on in disbelief as he placed his header back across goal and into the advertising boards.

Weymouth will occupy ball number 70 with their Conference counterparts in Monday evening's draw, but Matthews' troops have it all to do before they can even start to think about the next stage.

Terras: Matthews, Wells, Copp, McPhee, Laird, Brooks, Kelly (Beasley 85), Rigg, Yetton, Sills (Colwell 63), Shephard. Subs not used: West, Prodomo, Palmer, Winsper, Wannell.

Braintree: Hamann, Brundle, Habergham, Isaac, Paine, Massey, Walker (Strutton 83), Akinola, Cox, Peters, Mulley. Subs not used: Sparkes, Maybanks, Case, Sowumni, Moore, Pentney.

Bookings: Terras – Yetton (foul, 21) Rigg (foul, 84)

Braintree – Brundle (foul, 23) Paine (foul, 81) Peters (foul, 83)

Referee: Adam Hopkins (Plymouth)

Attendance: 989

Refrigeration Specialists Man of the Match: Stewart Yetton