WEYMOUTH stretched their unbeaten run to five matches with a blistering performance against King’s Lynn at the Wessex Stadium.
Quality goals from Darran Rowbotham (2), David Laws and Martin Underhay did the damage against the sixth-placed Linnets, who themselves had not tasted defeat in their previous six outings.
It’s a result that keeps the Terras in touching distance of the Dr Martens Premier Division’s leading pack, five of whom they meet over the next six weeks.
The visitors carved the first opening of the contest within 60 seconds when Dave Robinson’s cross was flicked into the path of Lyndon Rowland on the edge of the six-yard box. But just as he looked destined to score, the ball seemed to stick in the heavy surface, giving Ryan Cross enough time to make the tackle.
Three minutes later David Laws headed the Terras in front from a corner, but his celebrations were short-lived by the sight of the assistant referee flagging for offside.
But that disappointment was soon forgotten as Darran Rowbotham opened his account with a glorious effort on seven minutes.
The former Exeter City star shook his marker by allowing Mark Robinson’s throw to run past his body and then, from 25-yards out, he curled a scintillating left foot shot that sailed past a static Chuck Martini and into the top corner of the net.
Weymouth lost their way after that and a rare defensive mistake by skipper John Waldock almost allowed Rowland in for an equaliser at the far post.
The Linnets got back on terms in the 19th minute following some clever approach play by Adrian Hayes down the right flank. His ball inside found former Leeds United midfielder Tommy Wright in space and he controlled confidently before clipping beyond the reach of Danny Potter in the home goal.
The Terras replied with a ten-minute spell of pressure during which Martini proved the right one when he pounced to block Matthew Hare’s close range snap shot following a desperate goal-mouth scramble.
But that aside, there was little else to shout about before half-time, although Simon Bush did go close for Lynn with a powerful dipping half-volley.
Weymouth boss Andy Mason opted to gamble with three up front in the second period, with fans’ favourite Martin Underhay thrust in action to replace a below-par Mark Gammon.
And it was a decision that almost paid dividends on the hour as a grateful Craig Clark miraculously blocked Underhay’s spectactular goal-bound volley.
The Terras then erupted into life and with the improvement came what will no double be a contender for goal of the season.
There seemed little danger as Laws picked up a loose ball wide on the right, but after cutting inside he then finished sublimely with a 30-yard rocket to make it 158 strikes in 249 appearances.
The hosts began to run riot after that and they could even afford a second disallowed effort on 73 minutes. This time was Rowbotham who was penalised for a foul on the goalkeeper as Hare stabbed the ball home from two-yards.
But the veteran striker made amends two minutes later. The impressive Robinson swept out of defence before finding Laws with a cross-field ball and when he squared from the left-hand byline, there was Rowbotham to nod home at the far post. Martini then did well to keep out a deft chip from Robinson while at the other end it was Cross who reacted smartly to head substitute Jame March’s shot off the line.
With three outstanding individual goals to their credit, Weymouth then wrapped up the points in injury time with a stunning move, involving all 11 players on the park.
The Brazil-like build up featured no less than 30 passes with Lynn’s beleaguered troops being forced to chase shadows across the entire length and breadth of the park. And the spell-binding sequence only came to an end when Laws eventually drove a pin-point centre from the left wing that was crashed home by a delighted Underhay.
TERRAS: D Potter, M Gammon (M Underhay 45), M Hale (I Hutchinson 87), S Browne, J Waldock, R Cross, M Robinson, M Hare, D Rowbotham, D Laws, G Funnell (M Dean 87)
