Tuesday 20 January 2004 - Wessex Stadium - kick off 7.45pm Dr Martens Cup 4th Round

Before the game had really settled Matt Coupe, who was clearly remembered at Wessex Park for a ‘robust’ challenge on Terras manager Steve Claridge back when the side met in the league earlier in the season, was the victim of two late challenges that earned Hutchinson a deserved booking. At the centre of most of Weymouth’s good work was lively forward Yetton. As early as the seventh minute he almost raced clear, only Steve Jenkins’ timely tackle denying the former Plymouth youngster. He was also involved in the 20th minute move that ended with an under-pressure Jenkins diverting a back pass into the arms of Evans. From the resultant free-kick Evans produced an excellent double save, blocking Pethick’s initial effort and then holding Yetton’s follow-up. He was beaten seven minutes later only for Darren Hawkins to clear Yetton’s powerful header off the line. A mistake by Power at the back almost allowed Hawkins in but on the half hour mark the pressure finally told. Barlow lifted the ball forward toward Yetton. He appeared to be well covered by Coupe but somehow managed to hook a cross over that allowed Laws to loop a header beyond Evans. He went close to grabbing second and Yetton shot wide before the interval and City were grateful to reach half time just a goal down.

In the aforementioned league meeting City had trailed by two goals at the break before staging a stunning comeback that came within a retaken penalty of a memorable 3-2 victory. This time there was to be no such heroics although there was one feeling of deja-vu for the small group of City fans who had made the journey. Before this Evans had to be at his best to turn away efforts from Power and Laws. The familiar incident arrived just after the hour. The sight of a Weymouth player falling theatrically to the ground in the box, Yetton the offender rather than his manager this time around, was recognisable in itself but it was the events surrounding the penalty that were so painfully well-known. In a carbon copy of Tully’s spot kick back in September, Buckle saw his first effort pushed away by a City keeper only for the referee to order it to be retaken. He made no mistake the second time. That was it as far as a contest and although City were afforded more possession after this they never looked capable of finding a way back into the tie. Partridge and Shore did fire reasonable efforts wide late on but that this was a close as they came summed up the night perfectly for struggling City.