Date: Saturday 22nd October, 2005
Competition: FA Cup 4th Qualifying Round
Referee: Mr. M. Mullarkey
Att: 1,652 (away 160)
Weather at kick-off: sunny

The U's bowed out of the FA Cup at the fourth qualifying round stage in a disappointing performance at the Wessex Stadium.

Rob Newman named an unchanged side following Tuesday's 3-0 LDV win against Chester City. Fit-again defender David Chick replaces Wales Under-21 defender Adam Davies on the bench.

Weymouth boss Garry Hill made two changes, calling up midfielder Steve Clark and striker Wayne Purser for Shaun Wilkinson and leading scorer Chukki Eribenne. The Weymouth side included Brian Dutton, who had a brief spell at the Abbey Stadium during John Taylor's reign, but there was no place for other former U's men Danny Webb and Adam Wilde.

Although Weymouth's home game on Tuesday night had to be abandoned late in the first half due to heavy rain and a waterlogged pitch, the game kicked off on a good surface and with both sets of fans contributing to a good atmosphere.

The home side started brightly and there was a second minute scare for United when former Peterborough striker Wayne Purser was allowed a free header and drew a great save from Scott Howie to push the ball behind.

Terras winger Lee Elam gave early warning of his pace when he broke down the left and forced United to concede another corner in the fourth minute, and Weymouth's Clark saw a long-range shot fly wide in the ninth minute leaving Howie to lambast his defence for allowing the midfielder to take a shot.

The match continued at a high tempo and United had a great chance in the 12th minute when Parys Okai cut inside and switched the ball onto his left foot before letting fly from 25-yards, seeing his shot tipped onto the bar by Matthews.

An open and entertaining game turned in the hosts' favour in the 19th minute when Weymouth drove a free kick through a crowded area, Scott Howie failed to claim it the ball as it bounced off his chest, and it went in off striker Kirk Jackson as a number of Terras players closed in.

A good move by United saw a throw-in played forward by Darren Quinton to Craig Westcarr, whose good cross towards Matt Nolan was cut out by the keeper, but Weymouth were on top and in the 22nd minute Purser got past Duncan and almost combined with Jackson to take advantage of some shaky defending.

Referee Mike Mullarkey added to the frustration of United's players as he ignored some niggling challenges from the home side and responded to Craig Westcarr's comments by booking him in the 25th minute. Two minutes later Nolan beat the offside trap and appeared to be pushed over in the area by Challis, but he went down too easily in a good position and Mr Mullarkey was unimpressed.

Westcarr and Nolan (right) both barely tested Matthews with under-powered shots on the half hour, but the Weymouth keeper had more to do in the 36th minute when Ritchie Hanlon left a free kick for Westcarr and the striker curled a superb left-footed shot round the wall, Matthews making a great save to push it round the post.

Seconds later there was a self-inflicted scare for United when Morrison was closed down and Mark Peters had to step in to play the ball back to Howie to clear, but the keeper's clearance came off a Weymouth player and fortunately ran behind for a goal kick.

United's fortunes changed two minutes before half-time when Westcarr and Okai linked well to force a U's corner, which Stephen Smith floated onto the head of Mark Peters who planted it firmly beyond the keeper and into the bottom corner from 12 yards.

The half looked set to end on level terms but Weymouth had other ideas and moments after Parys Okai had made a vital covering challenge at the cost of a corner, Weymouth pressed forward again. That man Elam used his pace again to get behind the defence and cross from the right, and with the U's back line left stranded it fell to Purser to tap home from a yard out.

Half-time summary from match commentator Mark Johnson:
"A goalkeeping error and a stoppage time sucker punch sees United up against it at the break. Peters gave them hope just before the interval but the fragile-looking defence went AWOL once too often to give Weymouth the half-time lead. Half-time 2-1."

Second half:
Both sides emerged unchanged from the ten minute half-time break but there was little change in the pattern of the game as the home side continued in confident fashion and United looked reasonable going forward but uncomfortable at the back.

Garry Hill made a change in midfield after 53 minutes to bring on Shaun Wilkinson for Clark, and there was a further reminder of Elam's pace when Dutton launched a break from midfield and sent the winger away into space, forcing Peters into a last ditch challenge as United proved unable to cope with his pace.

Rob Newman responded by sending on leading scorer Fola Onibuje for Darren Quinton in the 59th minute, which saw Matt Nolan drop into a slightly deeper position as the formation changed to an attacking 3-4-3. Bridges was clattered soon afterwards and the big striker rose to meet Westcarr's cross at the free kick, heading the ball down just too firmly.

Ritchie Hanlon was next in the book for bringing down Purser as the striker threatened to break away in the 66th minute, and as United defended the free kick the ball struck Michael Morrison's arm but penalty appeals were waved away.

The introduction of Onibuje had lifted United and a good run and cross by Okai towards Onibuje was nodded away by Challis in the 72nd minute, and moments later Hanlon tried a typical long-range effort but lifted it well over the bar.

With twelve minutes remaining Brian Dutton flicked a header just wide from a Weymouth corner and then winger Mark Angel came on for David Bridges, but with almost his first touch presented the ball to Purser who was fortunately flagged offside as he ran clear and tucked the ball into the net.

Elam was booked for time-wasting in the 81st minute and then United almost equalised when Craig Westcarr controlled a flick-on and drove the ball goalwards but the impressive Matthews just got a hand to it.

Rob Newman's final roll of the dice was to bring on young striker Paul Atkins for Nolan with seven minutes left and Weymouth's response was to protect their lead and bring on defender Simon Downer for striker Purser in the 86th minute.

Atkins was full of running in United's front four and his shot from the edge of the area was blocked but ran kindly for Matthews with two minutes left, then Garry Hill made his final change and brought on Tony Taggart for Elam.

Four minutes of stoppage time was indicated and Smith lifted a shot over the bar after some good work from Okai and Onibuje, and as United threw everyone forward Mark Peters arrived to direct a header over the bar in the final action of a disappointing game.

Wrapped up by match commentator Mark Johnson:
"United were dumped out of the FA Cup before it even began thanks to a fourth qualifying round defeat at Weymouth. Despite travelling down overnight, the U's were slow out of the blocks and found themselves behind when Kirk Jackson tapped in following a goalkeeping howler. Mark Peters nodded an equaliser two minutes before the break but there was still time to gift-wrap what proved to be the winner for Wayne Purser in first half stoppage time. The U's created more after the interval, particularly once Fola Onibuje had been brought off the bench, but couldn't convert any of the opportunities and are left casting envious glances around the rest of the county come round one."

Man of the Match:
"Stephen Smith - a terrier in midfield who could not be accused of lacking heart as he battled from beginning to end."

Referee:
"Mr Mullarkey - lived up to his name with some confusing decisions. 4/10."

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