Poole made it six league games unbeaten against the Terras on Bank Holiday Monday with a hard fought 1-0 victory at the Bob Lucas Stadium that leaves them hot on the heels of leaders Redditch, and leaves the Terras six points adrift of the play-offs.
The two sides both went into Monday’s crunch derby on the bank of defeats. The Terras had suffered a heart-breaking late 1-0 loss at Hitchin on Good Friday having played for over an hour with ten men following the dismissal of Dean Evans, whilst on the Saturday the Dolphins had suffered a shock 2-1 home reverse to struggling Stratford Town.
It was certainly a match Weymouth couldn’t afford to lose, but they went into the clash without both Chris Shephard and Ben Thomson. Mark Molesley replaced Shephard whilst Tim Sills was played as a lone striker.
Despite their injury crisis the Terras made a bright start in front of a bumper crowd of over 1200 – hassling and harrying and generally making life uncomfortable for the visitors in the early stages.
They had the games first opening when Ashley Wells got to the by-line and crossed for Jordan Copp, but his header flew narrowly over the bar.
Down the other end the Dolphins then had their first chance of the contest, when a Steve Devlin free-kick was glanced wide of the mark by Jamie Whisken.
Weymouth were then awarded a free-kick on the edge of the area which George Rigg shanked well wide of the mark, whilst Mark Cooper did well to get to the by-line but his cross was easily gathered by Nick Hutchings.
The Dolphins then had claims for a penalty waved away when Will Spetch went down in the area. Play was waved on and Ashton Holgate failed make the most of a chance from close range – only hitting it straight at Jason Matthews.
It was a feisty affair with the tackles flying in from both sides. Poole’s Lewis Lindsay was booked for a rash challenge on Mark Cooper in front of the dugouts, and after being given a final warning he was hauled off after half an hour.
After a slow start the Dolphins began to control things, and on 37 minutes they struck a crucial blow.
Weymouth failed to clear a succession of corners, and on the third attempt Devlin’s ball in was met by the unmarked Marvin Brooks who powered home a header for his second goal against the Terras this season.
The Terras were then left feeing even more aggrieved a few minutes later when Mark Molesley surged forwards through midfield and was hauled down on the edge of the D by Michael Walker. Despite strong appeals for a red card as he was last man, Walker got away with just a yellow card, and Jordan Copp’s free-kick only trouble the home fans behind the goal.
Shortly after the interval Poole caused more problems from a corner when Brooks’ header was blocked, and Luke Roberts blazed the follow up high and wide.
In truth the Dolphins rarely looked like adding to their tally through the second half, but they kept their shape and discipline, and limited Weymouth to hopeful attempts from range.
Jordan Copp went on a surging run into the box from the left wing and forced Nick Hutchings into a good save in what proved to be a rare sight of goal for the Terras.
Copp was replaced by Yetton with a quarter of an hour remaining, and he spurned an excellent chance late on. Yetton latched onto a brilliant through ball from Molesley, but for some reason opted to pass it rather than shoot. The ball ended up drifting wide to fellow sub Osei-Obengo whose cross-come-shot was tipped over the bar by Hutchings.
Despite seeing most of the ball the Terras never really created much clear cut, and the Dolphins held on to secure a priceless three points that takes them back to within a point of league leaders Redditch United, who may also be set to lose points for fielding an ineligible player earlier in the season.
Weymouth now find themselves six points adrift of the play-offs, and really needing snookers to make the top five now. It was a game that really summed up their season. They just lacked that quality in the final third, and it looks like it’s their lack of goals which will ultimately cost them this season. Tim Sills put in a brilliant shift up top and won just about every header he went for, but there was never anyone there to latch onto his flick ons. The Terras certainly missed Thomson and Shephard. Just one goal in their last four games is hardly promotion winning form.
They’ll need to improve on that record quickly on Saturday when the league’s form side Frome Town visit the Bob Lucas Stadium. The Robins were in the relegation mire only a few weeks ago, but they’ve put together a remarkable run of just one defeat in thirteen games, including seven wins, that has seen them climb up to the relative safety of 17th.
Poole will be hoping to keep up the pressure on Redditch when they welcome Chesham United to Tatnam, but it wont be easy as they come up against a Chesham side who have hit a rich vein of form themselves – unbeaten in their last eight outings.
Elsewhere on Easter Monday Dorchester halted a run of three straight defeats winning a five goal thriller at bottom of the table Bideford.
Jason Brooks had given the Magpies an early lead but it was cancelled out by Matt Andrew right on the stroke of half time.
Two goals in as many minutes from Charlie Davis and Nathan Walker had the county town outfit in control midway through the second half, but they were made to sweat late on. Jake Smeeton went off injured and having used all three of their subs, the Magpies were forced to see out the match with ten men. Nick Milton halved the arrears five minutes from the end but the Magpies held on to pick up all three points. And they’ll no doubt be hoping for a similar outcome on Saturday when they make the short trip to third bottom Paulton Rovers.
James Spring
