FOLLOWING last week’s lethargic home showing against Redditch, Weymouth boss Brendon King demanded a response from his charges on Saturday and he certainly got it.

The Terras more than matched a highly experienced Havant & Waterlooville outfit in this crunch FA Trophy third qualifying round tie.

And, on the balance of play, the hosts, who went close to breaking the deadlock on several occasions in the second half, clearly deserved passage to the first round proper where clubs from the Blue Square Bet Premier enter the competition.

King, delighted with the performance but disappointed not to have got the job completed said, “We had them watched and we had a game plan that very nearly came off.

“In the first half we probably gave them too much respect but we still could have gone in 1-0 with Lewis Tasker’s late chance.

“At the break we told them that, with better ball retention, they could go out and believe we could win.

“After that the boys worked really hard as a team, not individuals, and we battered them second half.”

Despite the missed opportunity King remains upbeat about his side’s chances tomorrow and concluded: “We have got belief for Tuesday now and we are in the hat today. We will just have to go there prepared to work just as hard and keep the same positive attitude.”