WEYMOUTH 2

Fernandez 54 og, Robinson 62

OXFORD CITY 3

Roberts 13 pen, Ashby 15, Hall 88

WEYMOUTH fell short of the FA Cup main draw at the final qualifying round stage for the sixth time in 13 seasons as Oxford City took a deserved 3-2 win from a pulsating tie at the Bob Lucas Stadium.

City, who play one division below the Terras in the National League South, took a 2-0 lead after 15 minutes as Weymouth errors led to James Roberts and Josh Ashby goals.

Weymouth improved in the second half and a Luis Fernandez own goal was followed up by Andy Robinson’s fine finish to equalise in the 62nd minute.

Both sides had chances to win it before Louis Hall ghosted in to volley home and break Weymouth hearts two minutes from time.

Weymouth made three changes from the starting XI that began last weekend's 2-1 win over King's Lynn.

Alefe Santos and Tom Whelan came in, while there was a debut for centre-half Myles Anderson.

Josh Wakefield and Josh Leslie-Smith dropped to the bench, while Calvin Brooks was omitted from the squad completely.

Josh McQuoid, Ben Thomson and Ade Olumuyiwa took their place on the bench after self-isolation, but Jordan Ngalo missed out.

Weymouth were seeking to reach the first round proper after 13 seasons without an appearance – their last a 4-0 win at Eastbourne in the 2007/08 campaign.

Hopes of breaking the long run without a main draw tie were dampened after 15 minutes thanks to two horrible moments.

Amid torrential rain, Weymouth had actually made the brighter start until City broke away on the left.

Hall sped into space and his rifled effort was superbly tipped onto the post by home keeper Jack Bycroft.

With the danger not cleared, City recycled the ball to Zak McEachran who was bundled over in the box by Anderson.

In-form Roberts stepped up to lash a venomous strike into the top-left corner, with Bycroft standing little chance.

And the Southampton loanee could do nothing about City’s second two minutes later.

Jake McCarthy was this time at fault as his stray backpass was intercepted, allowing Ashby to clinically finish past the Saints’ stopper.

Shellshocked Weymouth very nearly conceded a third less than 60 seconds afterwards as Hall romped into the box and squared for Ashby, who was denied by a fabulous block from Corey Jordan.

Tom Whelan and Ashby were then booked in quick succession for cheap fouls before Brennan Camp wasted Weymouth’s best opening, slipping and handballing when free on the right.

City almost had a third when Roberts ran clean through, despite suspicions of an undetected throw-in, but Bycroft beat clear his fierce strike.

Lewis Coyle was next to try his luck, slicing wide, and Anderson’s horrid afternoon worsened when he was booked for a needless foul before being replaced by Leslie-Smith.

Further poor defending saw Jordan leave a through ball for the retreating Bycroft, as Harvey Bradbury ran through.

Luckily for Weymouth, the forward did not have the pace to make the chance count and Leslie-Smith tracked back to make a crucial block before half-time.

Having not seen a shot at goal in the first half, Weymouth boss Brian Stock made a second change as McCarthy was hooked for McQuoid – a move that paid instant dividends.

McQuoid’s presence up front altered the course of the game, firstly flicking a header at keeper Ben Dudzinksi.

Uplifted by their first shot on target, Weymouth raided down the left and halved the deficit in the 54th minute when Fernandez sliced Ollie Harfield’s cross into his own net.

Weymouth were now dominant and Camp should have equalised when he somehow guided Harfield’s skidding cross wide of the far post.

City retaliated when the dangerous Roberts clattered the post – but Weymouth cleared the corner and scored a wonderful counter-attacking goal.

Sean Shields and McQuoid combined on the right and the latter’s pass picked out Whelan whose chipped pass set Robinson free to fire first time into the bottom-right corner.

Santos shot wide from 20 yards and Roberts forced a fine sliding clearance from Jordan as the chances rained in.

Weymouth looked the likelier to score as Cooke’s attempted lob from an aerial Leslie-Smith ball went well wide and McQuoid had a chance for 3-2 but steered his header beyond the far post from Shields’ cross.

But Hall was proving a real livewire bombing on from left-back and his goalbound shot produced a flying stop from Bycroft at his near post.

City then subbed off McEachran for Nana Owusu and the winger, like McQuoid, had an immediate impact on the game.

The tall winger volleyed a corner wide after Roberts wasted a glorious opening but made amends with a fine chipped cross for the unmarked Hall to volley home in the 88th minute.

Weymouth pushed for a leveller in the final stages but could not work Dudzinski as City caused an upset in reaching the first round proper, also pocketing £9,375.

Terras: Bycroft, Camp, Jordan, Santos (Thomson 82), McCarthy (McQuoid 46), Anderson (Leslie-Smith 40), Robinson, Cooke, Whelan, Harfield, Shields.

Subs not used: Benfield, Wakefield, Olumuyiwa, Hoey

Oxford City: Dudzinski, Drewe, Hall, Ashby, Oastler, Roberts, Fleet, McEachran (Owusu 74), Bradbury (Benyon 58), Coyle (Bancroft 90+2), Fernandez.

Subs not used: Martinez, Gough, Naylor, George.

Referee: Scott Jackson