Hartpury FC bowed out of the FA Trophy on penalties following a hard fought 2-2 draw with Weymouth at the Bob Lucas Stadium, on Saturday.
The Acorns forced the ex-National League side into replies after Cameron Walters’ first senior goal and Louis Manning’s second half strike saw the Acorns lead twice in this second qualifying round match-up.
Morgan Ewing kicked the attempts off for the Acorns inside four minutes, when his effort on the angle rose to high above the cross bar.
Six minutes later, Ewing tested the Terras’ goalkeeper Gerard Benfield with a headed effort from close range, but the shot-stopper was down smartly to turn it away.
Nathan Jenkins had a sight at goal from 18-yards, but saw it deflected up into the air and kindly into Benfield’s arms on 13 minutes.
A frantic two minutes occurred on 16 minutes when Riley McGregor produced a superb block six yards form goal to deny Brooklyn Genesini, before Jenkins tested his luck from the half way line but saw his effort loop over, a minute later.
Genesini saw a rising volley from 20-yards, fly over Seth Locke’s goal on 18 minutes for the Terras.
Genesini found a way through again on 22 minutes but saw his effort fantastically smothered by Locke.
Kian Davies had the best chance of the half for the Acorns on 32 minutes when he struck the post from close range, with a stretching effort.
Ewing went close again on 37 minutes when he connected with a Keon Sanniola long ball but could only glance his header over the bar.
Three minutes later, Walters followed up on a spilled Davies effort to nestle the ball into the bottom corner giving the Acorns the lead.
But on the brink of half time, Genesini lashed a fierce effort past Locke from 18-yards to send the game all square into the break.
HALF TIME – HARTPURY FC 1-1 WEYMOUTH FC
Genesini was pulling the strings for Weymouth and had the opening effort of the new period on 47 minutes, when his strike from distance flew well wide.
Jenkins came a clawing save away from scoring one of the goals of the season when, after turning two players near halfway he drove down on goal before attempting to pick out the top corner but was brilliantly denied by Benfield, on 51 minutes.
The Acorns retook the lead on 54 minutes when Billy Osborn slide a cross towards an unmarked Manning who had the easy task of firing past Benfield from close range, moments after Walters had produced a vital block up the other end.
Tor Swann had a golden opportunity to level the game for the Terras on 63 minutes, when he got the better of Walters and went free on goal but couldn’t direct his resulting effort on target.
Weymouth through everything at the Acorns, as they tried to find an equaliser and almost did so if not for a fantastic point-blank range save from Locke on 73 minutes.
But the Terras would find a leveller five minutes later when Toby Holmes fired home from 12-yards.
Jesse Aldridge had a late sight at goal but couldn’t keep his effort down from 18-yards, seeing the game head to penalties.
The Acorns kicked off proceedings in the shoot-out but were denied by a combination of the trailing leg of Benfield and the crossbar but did nestle their second kick through McGregor.
Weymouth buried their opening two kicks before Locke stepped up to save their third attempt.
But the shoot-out was decided when, despite scoring our fifth spot kick, another Benfield save during our fourth and clinical finishing from the Terras saw them run out 4-3 victors on penalties.
The Acorns will return to Southern League Div One South action on Tuesday night when we welcome Melksham Town to the KMM Energy Stadium.
FULL TIME – HARTPURY FC 2-2(p) WEYMOUTH FC
STARTING XI: Locke (GK), Kent, Sanniola, Walters, McGregor, Aldridge, Davies (Coates 55’ (Robinson 84’)), Jenkins, Ewing, Manning, Osborn © (Preston 74’)
UNUSED SUBS: Callow, Silva
ATTENDENCE: 462
Written by Sam Yapp
