Dorchester Town got into the spirit of the season of good will by gifting Weymouth two penalties, as the Terras ran out 3-0 winners in the Boxing Day Ridgeway derby at the Avenue stadium.
The persistent rain turned the Avenue pitch into an absolute quagmire, so any hopes of a free flowing game went out the window. Instead it became a real battle. But the Terras always looked marginally the better side.
Attacking the home fans in the first half, Weymouth saw plenty of the ball and should have been at least 1-0 up at half time. They had the ball in the net in just the 13th minute, but the celebrations were cut short by the linesman’s flag.
Weymouth’s supporters down the other end didn’t have a great view of it so can’t really judge, but a few Dorchester fans were quick to admit the goal should have stood.
Weymouth continued to probe, but on such a bobbly pitch they couldn’t really play their usual passing game as effectively as normal.
Weymouth came to within inches of taking the lead when Calvin Brooks – making his last appearance before returning to Yeovil; headed Chris Shephard’s cross goalwards. But stand-in goalkeeper Shane Murphy reacted quickly to tip the defender’s header onto the crossbar.
A few moments later, Weymouth again thought they’d taken the lead, but once again the linesmans flag intervened. George Rigg had got the final touch almost on the goal line. Had he not got a touch on it, the goal would have stood.
The half time whistle went and the Magpies could count themselves fortunate to still be on level terms.
But the County Town outfit began the second half brightly – keeping the ball more and putting a few crosses into the Terras penalty area, although they didn’t really trouble Jason Matthews.
Weymouth nearly caught the hosts on the counter attack. Chris Shephard had been quite a thorn in the Magpies side in both derbies, and he put in a superb cross which fell perfectly for Yetton, but somehow the talisman fired over the bar.
Dorchester continued to grow in confidence – forcing a string of corners although most of which came to nothing. They had their best chance of the game when Mason Walsh’s cross was headed goalwards by Jack Odam, but it was straight at Matthews who was able to punch clear.
Had Odam headed the ball either side of Matthews the hosts surely would have taken the lead. But that miss was about to come back to haunt them.
Adam Kelly latched onto a long punt forwards and ran at the Magpies defence. He was hauled down by Oldring and the referee pointed to the penalty spot. No complaints from the hosts – a stonewaller.
Stewart Yetton kept his cool – sending Murphy the wrong way and rolling it into the corner to send the travelling claret & blue army into wild celebrations.
As has been so often the case this season, Dorchester’s heads suddenly dropped. It could have been 2-0 just minutes later when Shephard was sent clean through by Tim Sills, but Murphy did well to come out and smother the shot.
Next it was Chris McPhee’s turn to go close – getting on the end of a Jamie Laird header but shooting narrowly wide.
Weymouth were the dominant side but at 1-0 Dorchester still had a chance of nicking something. But three minutes from time they shot themselves in the foot.
Alec Fiddes’ cross was headed away but only as far as McPhee on the edge of the area. He controlled the ball, but Smeeton came flying in and took his legs out, leaving the referee with no choice but to award Weymouth a second penalty.
Murphy got a hand to this one, but there was just enough power on it to squeeze under him and into the net, to the delight of at least a thousand Weymouth fans. Most of them were soaked to the bone but they didn’t care now.
The points were now safe, and the celebrations had barely died down when the Terras scored again seconds later. Chris Shephard put another delightfull cross in and it fell perfectly for Tim Sills at the back post, who scored with a superb diving header. Game, set and match. The Terras had secured their first league win at the Avenue since 1999.
The celebrations between the players and supporters at full time told you all you needed to know about how big a result this was, the players clearly wanted to win this one just as much as the fans.
Take away the fact it’s a derby game, it was a game against a relegation threatened side in turmoil that Weymouth always should have won, but the form book generally goes out the window in derby matches – we’ve seen it happen plenty of times in this fixture over the years.
Meanwhile up in Somerset, Poole Town’s hard fought 1-0 victory at second bottom Frome Town meant that Weymouth could only go top of the table on Sunday if they won by a Cricket score. And they gave it a good go!
On Sunday, Weymouth made it back-to-back 3-0 victories over the festive period with a comfortable victory over another struggling side – Arlesey Town.
Again, it took a Stewart Yetton penalty to get the Terras off the mark, and he made it 2-0 just two minutes later – getting on the end of a fantastic passing move.
Alec Fiddes scored his first goal for the club ten minutes into the second half to complete the scoring, although in truth the visitors could have had no complaints if Weymouth had won 6 or 7-0. Weymouth dominated from start to finish.
Sunday’s win means the Terras go into the New Year level on points with Poole Town and Corby Town at the top of the league. Meanwhile at the other end, Dorchester remain just a place and a point above the relegation zone. And with Hereford United’s demise the Magpies are set to lose the 3 points they picked up against them back in September, which will plunge them into the relegation zone.
Where Dorchester go from here is unclear. Granted they were expected to lose on Boxing Day, but the manner of the defeat once again left most supporters feeling pretty disgruntled. They only had one shot on target in the whole game, although it must be said they did battle hard all game.
But the club is in a real mess. Goalkeeper Alan Walker-Harris and captain Nathan Walker could be on the verge of leaving the club after an apparent training ground bust up with maanger Graham Kemp. And Kemp himself is skating on very thin ice, with the vast majority of supporters calling for his head.
It dosen’t get any easier for him. On New Year’s Day they travel to Tatnam for another derby against Poole Town. In a strange way, Weymouth fans will suddenly be hoping the Magpies do them a favour and take points off their title rivals.
The Terras themselves face probably their biggest game of the season so far on New Year’s Day when they host Truro City.
Truro currently occupy the final play-off spot, and along with the Terras, are the league’s form side – winning all of their last six games and scoring 25 goals in the process; 5 of which came against Bideford on Boxing Day,
Truro also have no less than seven ex Terras in their squad. Ben Gerring, Niall Thompson, Craig Duff (their top scorer with 17), Isaac Vassell, Ed Palmer, Shane Krac, and player manager Steve Tully are all set to make a return to the Bob Lucas Stadium.
Krac and Palmer both began the season with Weymouth before leaving for personal reasons, whilst both Thompson and Vassell became fans favourites during their respective loan spells with the club last season.
Teams will face a quick turnaround after New Year’s Day as they’re back in action again on Saturday. Weymouth will face a tough trip to play-off chasing Hungerford Town, whilst Dorchester face a relegation six pointer at home to Arlesey, and Poole host bottom club Banbury United.
As the season goes on, every point becomes more and more crucial, especially those that you can pick up from the sides around you in the table. It promises to be a thrilling second half of the season!
As this is the last write up of the year, I’d like to wish everybody a happy and safe New Year, and hopefully I’ll see a few of you at matches over the second half of the season.
Clubs at this level rely on money coming through the turnstiles to keep going so please, try and get along and support your local team when you can. Dorset’s top three sides all need your support right now for different reasons!
James Spring
