PETERSFIELD TN 3, WEYMOUTH 1

MARK Molesley was outstanding for Aldershot Town in the two FA Cup matches against Portsmouth last season, helping the Shots to a shock victory.

But the Cup turned sour for Molesley, now playing for Weymouth, at Love Lane last Saturday. The experienced midfielder was sent off as Petersfield stormed into the second qualifying round for the first time in their history with a superb team display.

Molesley’s straight red left Weymouth with ten men for most of the match, but the Rams were already leading 2-0 and outplaying their visitors from the Southern League Premier Division.

Weymouth have a proud record in the FA Cup. They have reached the fourth round in the past and, ten years ago, as a National Conference club, took Nottingham Forest to a replay

A vociferous crowd of over 200 roared Petersfield to a famous victory.

Tony Ender made a vital save with his outstretched foot late in the first half. Thereafter, the Petersfield back four of Lewis Hyde, Sean Wain, Dan Sackman and Jamie Ford were outstanding.

The Rams deservedly took the lead on 17 minutes. The ball was played wide to Joe Briggs who drove into the penalty area and crossed low to the far post where Alek Przespolewski was waiting to score from a sharpish angle.

And Petersfield doubled their lead with a truly spectacular strike in the 28th minute. From a free-kick near the touchline, some 40 yards out, Briggs launched the ball towards the far post and it seemed to carry on the wind before dipping sharply to completely deceive keeper- manager Jason Matthews who could only push it into the roof of the net.

Things got even worse for Wemouth when, four minutes later, Molesley was sent off for a reckless, lunging tackle.

However, the Terras suddenly emerged as a real threat. An unmarked Stewart Yetton directed his shot towards the bottom corner and only the outstretched boot of Ender kept the ball out at the expense of a corner. Then Chris McPhee saw a shot cleared off the line.

Nineteen minutes into the second half, the Rams effectively put the cup-tie to bed with their third goal. A swift counter-attack allowed Mike Dixon to show his undoubted pace and he expertly dinked the ball past the advancing Matthews.

Weymouth substitute Adam Kelly shanked his shot right in front of goal before the visitors did pull one back. Petersfield failed to clear a corner and the ball dropped kindly for Yetton who scored from close range.

It set up a tense final 20 minutes and Weymouth gave it everything, but Petersfield defended with determination and discipline to see the game out.

Petersfield are rewarded with another home draw in the second qualifying round on September 26 and again they face opponents from the division above them – Cirencester, who beat Dorchester 3-1 in their replay on Tuesday.

Petersfield: Ender, Hyde, Wain, Woodford, Sackman, Ford, Richardson, Przespolewski, Dixon (Neal), Briggs, Green. Subs (not used): Wedlake, Read, O Searle, Flanighan, Thompson.