The bearded wonder struck a crucial goal yet again on Saturday as Weymouth made it back-to-back wins, and secured only their second away day success of 2015 with a hard fought 1-0 win at Kettering Town.
But the charismatic striker nearly didn’t play at all. Mark Cooper may have put in the cross for the goal but the real assist goes to a couple of travelling Terras supporters.
After five hours sitting on a sweltering, stuffy coach with no air conditioning, the Terras skipper came over all light headed after the warm up, and he certainly didn’t look himself for the opening exchanges.
However, after scoffing down a couple of kindly donated chocolate bars from a couple of fans, he was soon back to his old self – covering every blade of grass and putting in a true captain’s performance. Only in non-league eh?
In truth there was very little to write home about in the first half.
Jevani Brown and Saul Williams both had efforts fly just wide of the mark for the hosts, whilst Yetton and Evans came close for Weymouth in a cagey first half.
It always looked like the sort of game where the first goal would prove decisive, and just two minutes into the second half it came.
Kettering were caught out by a quick thinking Jordan Copp, who took a quick throw-in to Mark Cooper, and he hit a superb pinpoint cross onto the head of Yetton who made no mistake – steering the ball away from the despairing reach of the keeper into the bottom corner to put Weymouth in front, and bring delight to around 50 travelling fans.
The poppies were rocked, and it could have been 2-0 shortly afterwards when the ball fell to Copp on the edge of the D, but his shot flew inches over the bar.
Kettering then went straight down the other end and won a corner, and Brett Solkhon was left cursing his luck when his header smashed the post before bouncing away to safety.
Then came the moment where every Weymouth fan’s heart stopped.
Stewart Yetton went to chase a long ball, but he pulled up and went down clutching his hamstring/calf.
Play continued, and after a minute or so he eventually got up, but he was clearly in some discomfort despite his best efforts to run it off.
Everyone expected him to go off, but incredibly he played on through the pain, and continued to run his heart out.
Mark Molesley was a kitten’s whisker away from doubling the lead when his scuffed shot from the edge of the box smashed the corner of the goal, much to the relief of the keeper who was well beaten.
Naturally, Kettering threw the kitchen sink at Weymouth for the final quarter of an hour, but the Terras look a million times better defensively, and they held firm – restricting their hosts to speculative attempts from range. In truth Jason Matthews didn’t have a real save to make.
Weymouth saw the job through in a professional manner to claim a fantastic victory and a crucial three points.
It’s most certainly a game Weymouth would not have won last season, but their defence is so much stronger this season. They kept their shape and discipline, defended as a unit, frustrated the hosts and their crowd, and got their just rewards. It was the perfect away performance.
It’s a third clean sheet in a row for Weymouth – the first time they’ve achieved that since the first three games of the 2013-14 season. It was also Kettering’s first home defeat since New Year’s Day, so not a bad place for Weymouth to pick up only their second away win of the season!
The victory takes Weymouth two points clear of their two Dorset rivals, after both Poole and Dorchester were held to draws on home soil.
The Dolphins suffered their first defeat of the season at home to Chippenham on Tuesday, and they left it late to snatch a draw on Saturday against newly promoted Merthyr Town.
They made a flying start – Marvin Brooks headed them into the lead in just the third minute, but the Welshmen struck back on twenty minutes when Guillem Bauza struck a half-volley past Hutchings.
Merthyr gradually took control, and they had strong claims for a penalty turned down right on half time. Even the linesman flagged for a foul but the referee waved play on, to the dismay of the visitors.
Just over an hour into the game, Merthyr struck again on the counter – with Elliot Scotcher finishing off the move to put Merthyr in front.
It was no more than they deserved, and it looked like they were set to take all three points back over the border, but four minutes from time their hearts were broken.
Steve Devlin’s free kick was helped on by Jamie Davidson to Luke Roberts, and he used his quick feet to beat three defenders before rifling a shot into the bottom corner to snatch the Dolphins a point.
The action didn’t stop there though. In the closing stages Merthyr’s Kyle Patten earned a straight red card for a rash lunge on Carl Pettifer, while Jamie Whisken recieved a second yellow card.
But it ended honours even. And it was the same story at the Avenue, where for the second time in a week – Dorchester were held to a goalless draw by Dunstable Town.
No doubt both Dorchester & Weymouth will be looking to extend their runs of clean sheets next weekend going into the first Ridgeway Derby of the season on Bank Holiday Monday.
But before that, Weymouth welcome title favourites St Neots Town to the Bob Lucas Stadium on Saturday.
The Saints have had a mixed start. They’ve been scoring plenty of goals but they’ve also been leaking a fair few. It promises to be a cracking tie at the BLS.
Dorchester make the short trip to the early leaders Chippenham Town, whilst Poole travel to Slough Town – who despite an indifferent start to their season, won their last home game 7-1!
James Spring
