Cobblers bow out of FA Trophy
A solitary second half goal from Weymouth was enough to break Street’s brave resistance and end the Cobblers great run in the FA Trophy. Street had earned the right for another crack at the Southern League Prem leaders and they put in another excellent display and on another day could have come away with a famous victory.
Rich Fey named an unchanged starting line-up and Street started the game extremely well. After 11 minutes terrific wing play from Jamie Short out on the left saw him send a brilliant cross into the box but an unmarked Matt Hurley couldn’t direct his header on target. Minutes later a cross field pass from Lewis Tasker once again found Short in a dangerous position and his ball into ball in was met by Harry Foster but his point blank effort was pushed away. It was Short once again setting up another opportunity this time for Dave O’Hare on 20 minutes but his shot was blocked by a last ditch tackle and away for a corner.
Weymouth responded well to that early Street onslaught and started to switch the play and keep possession. They were nearly ahead on 24 minutes but a brilliant goal line clearance from Lewis Tasker kept the scores level. Hurley and Aidan Chainey were in great form in the middle of the park for the Cobblers and it was a Hurley through ball on 40 minutes that found the run of Foster and his fizzed effort on the angle was tipped round the post. Weymouth’s best chance of the half came just before half time but Tom Punchard made an outstanding save from ex Cobbler Harry Baker’s close range effort.
A enforced change at the break saw captain Ben Amghar come on for Ross McErlain as Street looked to grab that all important goal. It was a subdued opening period to the second half but it was Street who tried their luck next on 58 minutes with Leigh Bailey met a deep corner from Short but his header was easily saved. Weymouth started to apply some pressure to the Street goal and they had the next opportunity but a looping header went just over.
The decisive goal came after 72 minutes when the ever dangerous Abdulai Baggie picked up the ball on the left and played a neat one two with Brandon Goodship to fire past Tom Punchard in the Street goal. Like the game on Saturday the Cobblers never gave up and with 10 minutes left a whipped corner evaded a sea of green shirts and nearly squeezed in at the far post. On 80 minutes a Weymouth clearance struck the head of a visiting player and the ball rebounded kindly to put Steve Murray in on goal, the ref blew for a potential head injury much to the frustration of the brilliant Cobbler support. The right call from an excellent refereeing performance, credit where credits due!
Weymouth maybe should have put the tie to bed with 5 minutes left on the clock when an excellent cross into the Street box found Goodship at the far post for a tap in but Punchard made a remarkable save to keep the score at 1-0. There was one more chance in the game with moments left on the clock when a Tasker cross was only half cleared and Ed Butcher’s thumping volley from the edge of the box cleared the cross bar by a matter of inches, so close!
Wasn’t to be on the night for Street but a valiant effort in both games against a top side. Thank you to everyone who came out to support, good luck to Weymouth in the next round.
Man of the match Jamie Short
Attendance 362
Action from last night (Photo credit Weymouth FC)
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