Weymouth bounced back from their Tuesday night humiliation with an important victory at home to last season’s runners up Redditch United. But perhaps more importantly, the Terras supporters were left scratching their heads wondering where this team had been four days previously, as they put in a scintillating performance in the sunshine and created enough chances to win two games.
Matthews made four changes from the side humbled in midweek, with Sam Jordan, Aaron Rodriguez, Ashley Wells an Billy Lowes coming in for Chris Shephard, Stewart Yetton, Conor Jevon and Jordan Copp.
Redditch meanwhile, boasted former Republic of Ireland international, and former Birmingham City, Coventry City and Sheffield Wednesday striker Clinton Morrison in their starting xi.
Weymouth made a bright start. From minute one they looked intent on righting the wrongs of Tuesday night – moving the ball around with pace and purpose, and closing and hassling Redditch when they had the ball, and never allowing the visitors to settle into any real rhythm.
Dan Smith had an early chance when he was teed up by Rodriguez, but his shot from the edge of the area was wide of the mark.
Sam Jordan then showed superb skill & confidence when attempting an audacious overhead kick when the ball bounced loose in the area, but his effort was blocked by a defender.
Mark Cooper then saw his powerful drive blocked on the line, before Smith blazed the follow up effort over the bar.
Wingers Smith and Rodriguez were linking up nicely, and Rodriguez came close to opening his account for the Terras when he got on the end of a devilish ball in from Smith, but his header produced a point blank save from visiting goalkeeper Bradley Catlow.
Charlie Davis then dragged an effort wide of the mark shortly before the break, as the Terras went in at half time somewhat frustrated not to be in the lead.
The Redditch management were clearly less than impressed with their first half performance, and they made two half time changes, and they had their first half chance of the game just seconds after the restart, but Clinton Morrison failed to trouble Matthews.
Other than that half chance, it continued to be one way traffic, with the Terras continuing to spurn chances to take the lead.
Redditch goalkeeper Catlow failed to properly punch clear another Dan Smith cross, and the ball fell for Dean Evans on the edge of the box, but he drilled his effort over the bar.
Billy Lowes was next to try his luck – firing wide of the mark from the edge of the area following some patient build up play.
On 65 minutes the Terras had their appeals for a penalty waved away when Jake Wannell’s shot looked to be blocked by the arm of defender Cameron Young.
Jordan Copp came off the bench and had a good chance five minutes from time when the visitors failed to clear their lines from a corner, but Copp’s effort from the edge of the D only troubled the fans behind the goal.
Dan Smith had been causing the Redditch defence no end of problems all afternoon, and when he was scythed down by Ricardo Dudley, the Redditch man was awarded his second yellow, leaving United to see out the final few minutes with ten men.
But they could have snatched the win themselves. A loose pass was picked up by Eli Bako, and he set off on a surging run towards goal. He went down under pressure from Jake Wannell, but the visitors protests were waved away by the referee.
Weymouth counter-attacked, and Redditch’s frustrations turned to despair, when Ben Thomson was adjudged to have been tripped by a defender and the referee pointed to the spot. There was a real melee on the edge of the box but Redditch’s, and in particular Clinton Morrison’s desperate protests fell on death ears. The former Republic of Ireland International was involved in a particularly strong exchange of words with Jake Wannell, and it took the referee a good few minutes to calm things down.
Despite the long wait to take the penalty, Charlie Davis showed no sign of nerves – keeping his cool and sending the keeper the wrong way to surely seal a deserved three points for the Terras.
But there was to be one last heart in mouth moment for the Terras faithful. As Redditch threw everyone forwards in a desperate attempt to rescue a point, Weymouth failed to properly clear their lines from a long throw in, and the ball fell for Danico Johnson on the edge of the area, and his half volley flew just inches over the crossbar, much to the relief of the home crowd.
But it would certainly have been an undeserved point for the visitors, and Weymouth sealed a much needed victory against one of their fellow promotion favourites. The performance from Weymouth was totally unrecognisable from Tuesday night, and in truth they really should have had the points in the bag long before the penalty was awarded with the chances they created. But they won’t care how it came, it’s three points in the bag, and it should give them a big confidence boost.
The Terras will be looking to push on from that win and build some momentum, beginning on Wednesday night when they make the short journey to Frome Town.
Frome hasn’t been a particularly happy hunting ground for the Terras over the last few seasons, and the Robins have made an encouraging start – picking up victories over Hayes & Yeading, and Cirencester Town, before a late defeat at St Neots Town.
But the Terras should go there in confident mood following their performance on Saturday, and they’ll be looking to start an unbeaten run from here.
Meanwhile, Dorchester are still awaiting their first points, and first goal of the new season, as they slumped to a 3-0 defeat at Chesham United on Saturday.
The Magpies were looking for a strong reaction after a 4-0 loss at Cinderford, and they made an encouraging start – forcing a string of early corners and not allowing their hosts to settle.
Ashlee Jones was forced into a good save from a free-kick, but on 22 minutes, somewhat against the run of play – Chesham took the lead.
A quick breakaway saw a teasing ball sent into the area. Drew Roberts has a particularly prolific goal scoring record at this level, so he’s certainly not someone you want to be leaving totally unmarked in the area! He smashed an unstoppable volley into the far corner to give the Generals the lead.
The game became rather scrappy for the next twenty minutes or so, with both sides failing to create any chances of note. But right on the stroke of half time, the Magpies were left with a mountain to climb, as Sam Youngs headed home Dave Pearce’s cross to double United’s advantage.
Three minutes into the second half, the game was effectively over as a contest when Roberts scored another volley to put the hosts in cruise control.
Roberts came close to earning the match ball midway through the second half when he struck the post with a low drive from the edge of the area, whilst Shane Murphy pulled off a couple of good saves to keep the score line respectable.
Dorchester never really threatened to mount a fightback, and the defeat see’s them remain bottom of the table, as the only side in the league yet to get off the mark.
They’ll be desperate to get their first points on the board on Tuesday night as they welcome Cirencester Town to the Avenue. The Centurions were well beaten in their opening two games, but they earned a hard fought victory over Biggleswade on Saturday. The pressure is already on for Dorchester, and they need to get something on the board soon.
Along the coast, Poole Town made it two wins out of two at home, and it was a similar story to Tuesday night, as a first half strike from Richard Gillespie proved to be enough to give them a 1-0 victory, this time over Bishops Stortford.
The Dolphins are in action again on Tuesday night, as they travel to early season pacesetters Weston Super-Mare, who put their 100% record on the line.
Wimborne Town suffered their first defeat of the season, going down 2-0 at Evesham United thanks to second half goals from Lance Smith and Adam Mann. A disappointing afternoon for the Magpies, and they’ll be looking to bounce back on Tuesday night. But it won’t be easy, as they host a Taunton Town side who will be on a high following a comfortable victory over Sailsbury.
The goals continued to flow for Portland United on their return to the Wessex Premier league, as they cruised to a 3-0 victory over Alresford Town at Grove Corner thanks to goals from Ed Bastick, Ryan McKechnie and Tom Richardson.
The Islanders face arguably their toughest test so far on Monday night when they travel to Team Solent, who scored a last gasp penalty to see off Bashley 3-2 on Saturday.
Bridport got their first points on the board in the new Western league season with a hard fought 2-1 win at Clevedon Town, thanks to two goals from Mark Salter.
Salter’s 20th minute strike had the Bees one to the good at half time, but the hosts equalised six minutes into the second half through Daine O’Connor.
But the Bees were not to be denied, and on 69 minutes Salter bagged his second of the game, and they held on to secure all three points on the road.
The Bees will look to push on on Wednesday night when they travel to Willand Rovers.
Weymouth Reserves got their first point in Wessex Divison One, as they fought back from a goal down to secure a 1-1 draw at Alton. They’ll look to build on that on Wednesday night when they welcome last season’s runaway DPL champions Shaftesbury to the Bob Lucas Stadium, who themselves got off the mark on Saturday with a 3-1 win over Romsey Town.
James Spring
