Weymouth bounced back from their FA Cup embarrassment with a hard fought goalless draw away at second placed Leamington on Saturday.
The result keeps the Terras within touching distance of the top five, and maintains their record for having the best defensive record in the league, with just four goals conceded so far.
Leamington made a bright start; Lee More had the games first chance when a long throw was flicked on to him, but his effort was blocked by Pat Baldwin.
Shortly afterwards Lee Chilton tried his luck from range, and his low drive forced a sharp save low down to his right from Jason Matthews.
The hosts then had their best chance of the game when a long ball forwards was flicked on by More to the ever prolific Ben Mackey, but his shot from close range was turned into the post by Matthews before eventually being cleared.
It wasn’t all one way traffic though. Weymouth were keeping the ball well, and some neat build up play eventually lead to Chris Shephard being tripped by Ben George just outside the box. Shephard took the free kick himself but his delivery evaded everybody.
Leamington then broke straight down the other end and had a great chance when a cross found Lee More in space in the box. He chested it down but he failed to keep his composure and fired well over the crossbar, much to the relief of the visitors.
Shortly before the break Weymouth came close to breaking the deadlock when a short corner was played to the unmarked Jordan Copp on the edge of the box. His drive was pushed onto the post by goalkeeper Tony Breeden before bouncing away to safety.
Weymouth had the last chance of the first half, when more neat build up play ended up with Mark Molesley’s shot being blocked, but it only fell as far as Ben Thomson who found Chris Shephard on the edge of the D, but his shot on the turn was straight at the keeper who held on comfortably, and the sides went in level at the break.
Both sides continued to probe in the second half but neither was able to fashion any real clear cut chances.
It looked for all the world as though Ben Mackey was going to break the deadlock when he was sent clean through on goal, but he was thwarted by a fantastic last ditch tackle from Calvin Brooks. He had to get it right otherwise he would’ve given away a penalty and probably seen a red card, and he got it spot on.
Molesley had the games final effort but his scuffed effort was comfortably saved by the keeper and that was that. A deserved and hard fought point on the road for the Terras. Not many sides will come away from Leamington with anything this season, but the Terras continue to look as solid as a rock at the back, and if they could just start scoring a few more goals they really will be flying.
The Magpies still are flying on home soil. They bounced back from a dissapointing FA Cup exit in the replay at Cirencester with a 3-1 victory over newly promoted Stratford Town in an entertaining clash at the Avenue.
Stratford had the first real chance when Kieron Westwood’s free kick was glanced wide by Liam Francis, before Robert Thompson-Brown’s cross found Edwin Ahenkorah whose shot on the turn also went wide.
Dorchester gradually began to take control though. Charlie Davis had a powerful drive from 25 yards well saved by goalkeeper Andy Kemp, but the reprieve didn’t last long, as from the resulting corner Nathan Walker headed home to give the Magpies a 20th minute lead.
Minutes later Walker had another header from a corner but this time it was cleared off the line.
Davis was looking dangerous from distance, and he tried his luck from 35 yards only to see his shot cannon back off the post. But minutes later he did score, squeezing in another free kick under the crossbar to put Dorchester firmly in control going into half time.
Stratford began the second half like they did the first, and they halved the arrears on 54 minutes when Ahenkorah finished from close range after a surging run into the box by Westwood. That was the first goal the Magpies have conceded at home in the league this season.
But any hopes of a comeback were dashed just past the hour mark, when Ben Watson finished coolly into top left corner from the edge of the box.
Jermyn, Smeeton and Watson all went close to adding some gloss to the scoreline, but it finished 3-1, and it maintains Dorchester’s unbeaten home record.
It also keeps them level on points and goal difference with Poole Town who became the first side to win at Biggleswade this season thanks to Luke Holmes’ 26th minute strike.
That sets up Tuesday night’s local derby between the Dolphins and the Magpies at Tatnam very nicely. Dorchester took four points off Poole last season and they’re playing with bags of confidence at the minute, so they’ll certainly fancy their chances of coming away from Poole with a good result. It promises to be an intriguing clash!
There’s also a fascinating looking game at the Bob Lucas Stadium as Weymouth welcome unbeaten league leaders Chippenham to town. The two sides have the top two best defensive records in the division, with just nine goals conceded between them, so it looks like being a tight and nervy game. Sods law it’ll be a seven goal thriller now. Fingers crossed!
James Spring
