All square in the Trophy

After being in doubt through heavy rain the previous day this FA Trophy game at Weymouth got under way following an early morning inspection.  There was a first start for Stuart Whitehead after being missing for the previous five due to a mixture of suspension and being dropped to the bench.  Jeff Kenna was missing completely with an 'illness' compounding the rumours that he is out of favour with the Harriers management team.

The on fire scoring duo of James Constable and Iyseden Christie continued their renewed partnership up front at the expense of Justin Richards who continued on the bench as in recent weeks.  Also on the bench was Gavin Hurren who had made way for Whitehead.

Starring for the home side was their latest signing from West Ham Utd - the exotically named Bondz Ngala, an eighteen year old central defender.

The first fifteen minutes of the game lacked any kind of excitement with a lack of focus throughout both sides.  The only moment of note coming with the booking of Ngala following a shove on James Constable while jumping for a high ball.

Following that we started to take control of the game without ever really stamping our authority on it.  Christie had a speculative shot that went well over, James Constable had a good effort saved well by the Weymouth keeper and that was it.  Scott Bevan hadn't had a single save to make throughout the half.

Would there be any improvement in the second half?

HT: 0 - 0

The second period continued in the same vein with neither side looking really capable of grabbing the game by the scruff of the neck.  Andy Ferrell came the closest in the opening minutes when he raced into the area after what looked like a lost cause and managed to get in a shot that was blocked by the outstretched arm of Ngala but the calls for a penalty were waved away by the referee.

With a hour of the game gone the home side finally managed to get their first shot in on goal.  The Canadian, Gavin McCullum who impressed in Weymouth's visit to Aggborough at the beginning of the season, slipped past Mark Creighton but then fired too weakly to give Bevan no real problem in keeping the shot out.

In the sixty fifth minute Christie made way for Justin Richards and Dean Bennett likewise for Simon Russell.  The intention was to get the game moving at a faster pace and that seemed to work to some extent with the Harriers now in full control of the game.

Constable was the one to benefit most from the change and he got a great chance to win the game for us.  Michael Blackwood sent a long ball deep from defence that Richards ran onto and he then sent over a brilliant cross that Beano headed towards the left of the diving keeper but Matthews just managed to get his fingertips to it and somehow kept it out.

A free kick from Ferrell was the next move that could have produced a goal when Creights headed it on for Russ Penn.  The shot from Penn hit Trevor Challis on it's way though and the chance was over.

The game was starting to look like a stalemate and although Weymouth raised their game slightly it wasn't enough to worry the Harriers and the game ended goal less and Tuesday night booked for the replay back at Aggborough.

FT: 0 - 0