Super Sub Sills gives Terras priceless victory, Dolphins hit five & Dorch’s play-off hopes dashed
Tim Sills rolled back the years by coming off the bench to score arguably the most important goal of Weymouth’s season to hand them a priceless victory at fellow promotion chasers Hungerford Town.
Having played out a rather dull and uneventful goalless draw at Slough on the Saturday, the Terras went into the clash six points adrift of the play-offs, and knowing that realistically only a win would keep their play-off hopes alive. But that was never going to be an easy task against an in-form Hungerford side who’d won five of their last six matches, and only suffered two home defeats all season.
Jason Matthews made two changes to his starting xi – bringing in Jordan Copp and Billy Lowes for Mark Molesley and Stewart Yetton, with Calvin Brooks being handed the captain’s armband.
The hosts made a fast start. Former Newcastle man Alan O’Brian won a free-kick on the edge of the area which was fired just wide of the mark after a couple of minutes.
After a quarter of an hour the Crusaders came close again when O’Brien was well picked out in space by a superb cross-field pass. He surged into the box and rounded Jason Matthews, only to see his shot hooked off the line by Jake Wannell to keep it goalless.
After that early scare, the Terras began to grow into the contest and slowly got on top.
Ben Thomson had Weymouth’s first real opening when he was picked out by Copp, but he fired his shot across the face of goal from a tight angle.
The pace was frantic, and it was then the hosts turn to threaten when winger James Clarke sent a teasing ball into the box which Scott Rees glanced just wide of the mark.
Weymouth were then inches away from making a breakthrough midway through the first half when Chris Shephard skipped past his man and sent a superb cross in towards Dean Evans, and the midfielder’s header crashed back off the crossbar before eventually being hacked clear after a bit of a scramble in the six yard box.
Weymouth were playing some lovely football. A slick corner routine between Shephard and Copp saw the ball laid off to George Rigg who unleased a powerful strike from all of 30 yards which forced a stunning save from Hungerford goalkeeper Paul Strudley.
Strudley then had to be on his guard again right on half time when Billy Lowes’s cross-cum-shot just grazed the top of the crossbar and landed on the roof of the net, as the two sides went in level pegging at the break.
Ben Thomson had been a key man for Weymouth in the first half with his superb hold up play, but he took a knock to his hamstring right at the end of the half and was replaced by Tim Sills at half time. But the veteran striker’s impact was immediate.
Weymouth won back possession in midfield and Jordan Copp was sent clear down the left wing by Billy Lowes. Copp sent a delightful ball in towards Sills at the far post who headed home across goal into the bottom corner to give his side a priceless lead, to the delight of around fifty travelling Terras fans.
Weymouth knew they were going to have to really dig in now as the Crusaders sent Nat Jarvis on in an attempt to claw their way back into the game, but they were frustrated by a dogged defensive display from the Terras, and the hosts struggled to really create any real chances of note.
Midway through the second half there was a moment of controversy when Chris Shephard won a 50/50 and found himself clean through on goal, only for the referee to pull play back and award Weymouth a free-kick rather than playing the advantage, much to everyone’s bemusement.
Naturally Hungerford began to throw the kitchen sink at the Terras in the final ten minutes, but Weymouth kept their shape and discipline, making it impossible for Hungerford to create anything clear cut, and forcing them to resort to sending hopeful punts into the penalty area which never really troubled Matthews or the Terras backline.
Weymouth held on to secure a crucial victory that moves them back to within three points of the play-offs – with fifth place currently being held by Hitchin Town who the Terras travel to on Good Friday, before a derby showdown with Poole Town on Monday.
The Dolphins were knocked off top spot on Monday night by Redditch United despite thrashing struggling Bedworth 5-0 at Tatnam on Saturday.
First half strikes from Luke Roberts and Luke Burbridge had the Dolphins in cruise control at the break, before a second goal from Roberts ten minutes into the second half killed off any lingering hopes of a comeback, and late goals from Ashan Holgate and Lee added some gloss to the scoreline.
They’ll be hoping to take their goalscoring form into the Easter weekend. They welcome another struggling and out-of-form side in Stratford Town to Tatnam on Saturday before the derby at Weymouth on Monday.
Leamington appear to be the league’s form side currently, and they’re hot on Poole’s heels after a second win in a week over Dorchester Town on Saturday.
Sam Austin scored two of Leamington’s three against the Magpies the previous week, and he was on target again at the Avenue – firing home what proved to be the decisive goal midway through the first half.
But the main talking point came on 52 minutes when tempers flared following a tough challenge from Gary Bowles on James Mace. Bowles was shown a straight red card and Mace was also sent off for his reaction, leaving both sides to complete the game with ten men.
The defeat extinguishes Dorchester’s play-off hopes baring a miracle, but they’ll still be hoping to end the season on a high. They welcome a Biggleswade Town side one place below them to the Avenue on Saturday before an Easter Monday trip to basement boys Bideford.
James Spring
