Weymouth 1-1 AFC Wimbledon: Ahkeem Rose discusses his goal

Rose’s low free-kick helped Weymouth deservedly earn a replay against the League Two side, cancelling out Ayoub Assal’s opener.

Weymouth feel the Mitre balls used across the FA Cup are more conducive to movement than the New Balance design at National League South level.

FA laws stipulate the ball must be spherical, made of suitable material, measure between 68 and 70cm in circumference, weigh between 410g and 450g at the start of the match and be pumped to a pressure equal to between 0.6 and 1.1 atmosphere at sea level.

There is no suggestion that the Mitre ball is unfit for purpose.

READ MORE: Weymouth 1-1 AFC Wimbledon - match report

However, Weymouth felt compelled to order Rose to strike his free-kicks without curl – although this was not a tactic deployed by Tom Blair and Keelan O’Connell at other set-pieces.

And Rose revealed a chat with manager Bobby Wilkinson about the Mitre balls.

He said: “He said on Thursday that if we get a free-kick, just strike it – no curl.

“That’s what I did and it went in, so cheers to the gaffer!”

READ MORE: Weymouth 1-1 AFC Wimbledon - match reaction

And Wilkinson also had his say on the matter: “Maybe I’m a little bit sad, I even analyse the footballs!

“I watched him do that in training every day. Detail for me is everything.

“I knew if we got around that area, I wanted them to shoot. I’m so proud for him.

“I said to him: ‘You’ve worked extremely hard with all your injuries’ and he’s been rewarded.

“I believe hard work gets rewarded. I’m so proud for him to take the goal.”

Rose has become something of an FA Cup specialist for Weymouth this season, with all three of his goals coming in the competition.

Rose’s superbly-directed free-kick fizzed underneath the Dons’ wall and proved too hot for away keeper Nikola Tzanev to handle.

It added to his strike against Winchester and a stoppage-time winner at Havant in the qualifying rounds.

Ahkeem Rose, centre right, is congratulated after scoring against AFC Wimbledon (Image: MARK PROBIN)

When put to him that all his goals have come in the FA Cup this season, the Jamaican said: “Haha, I know! It’s a good feeling to score again.

“We’re in the hat, even though we’ve still got another game to play.

“It was good to score, the boys worked hard and we left everything out there. I’m proud of the boys.

“The atmosphere was brilliant and the fans were fantastic, I must say. We could’ve scored (a winner) but didn’t.

“We just need to get to that next level. We’ll get there, I believe we will. The boys are working hard and we showed we can go toe-to-toe with anyone.”

Picking up on the atmosphere, Rose added: “The fans turned up and they’ve been with us through thick and thin. I’m so happy for them and the club.

“It’s brilliant to see a smile on their face, I’m grateful for that. I’m happy to be at this club.”