WEYMOUTH 2

PAULTON ROVERS 1

WEYMOUTH will face Gospoort Borough in the FA Cup second qualifying round after they comfortably saw off Paulton Rovers 2-1 at the Bob Lucas Stadium.

Aaron Rodriguez opened the scoring for the Terras from close range in the 36th minute.

Charlie Davis missed a penalty in the first half but made amends six minutes after the break with a sublime free-kick that doubled the hosts’ lead.

The away side gave themselves a lifeline through Nathan Legge soon after, but Weymouth ran out comfortable winners.

The Terras made just one change from the side that saw their game abandoned on Saturday, Tiago Sa came into the starting line-up for Jordan Copp, who was not named on the bench.

An almost unchanged side saw the pattern of play continue from Saturday. From the first whistle, the Terras were in control of the game. Davis was sitting at the base of the midfield, linking the play nicely.

Mark Molesley had the first shot of the game in the sixth minute from range, but it fell harmlessly wide.

After that, the game fell into a slight trance, as Weymouth – although with plenty of possession – struggled to break down a compact Rovers outfit, who had made four changes to their side.

The Terras next silky move in the 21st minute led to Davis’ penalty miss.  Sa, Dan Smith and Billy Lowes linked well down the left flank before Smith squared the ball into the path of Thomson. He allowed the ball to run by him, but as he did that, was upended by George Brimson, allowing the referee to give a straightforward spot-kick.

Davis stepped up and aimed for the top right corner. However, Hannah guessed right, tipping the ball over the bar to leave the midfielder with his head in his hands.

The hosts continued to press for the opener and it came nine minutes before the break.

In truth, it was a simply-worked goal, but it proved effective. Mark Molesley played in Rodriguez down the right flank. The winger drove at the full-back, turning him left then right before slotting a low shot into the bottom corner past the diving Hannah.

The score remained the same heading into the break, but it didn’t take long for the hosts to double their lead.

In the 51st minute, Dan Smith was fouled on the edge of the box.

Up stepped Davis, who curled a precise free-kick into the far bottom corner – his success from set plays is becoming a nice fillip for the club.

However, after Ben Thomson had missed a golden opportunity to make it 3-0, Rovers were handed a lifeline in the 61st minute.

An in-swinging corner was headed towards goal, and Legge was on hand to poke it home from five yards.

The game opened up after the third goal with Rodriguez and substitute Sam Jordan both going close.

With every passing unsuccessful attack, the home faithful started to get restless.

In the same vein, every attack from the visitors was met with a nervous silence.

Legge was able to find space on the left wing for the away side, but his crosses never found their target.

When anything did find its way into the danger area, Stephane Zubar and Jake Wannell were on hand to deal with the threat.

With four minutes to play, substitute Stewart Yetton had a shot saved before Mark Molesley fired wide of the mark.

Despite those missed chances that could have put the game beyond doubt, the result was deserved, and the hosts will now face must tougher opponents in the next round.

Terras: Thomas, Cooper, Sa, Lowes, Zubar, Wannell, Smith (Yetton 81), Davis, Rodriguez, Thomson (Jordan 59), Molesley

Subs not used: Wells, Matthews, Evans

Paulton: Hannah, Keiightley, O'Sullivan, Grimshaw, Brimson, Shaw, Hailston, Gibbons, Legge, Riicketts, Parkes (Gould 74)

Subs not used: Baldy, Mahmood, Rawlings, Diallo

Referee: Joshua Ainscow (Swindon)

Bookings: Terras ­– Molesley

Paulton – O’Sullivan, Legge

Attendance: 472