Revenge Is Sweet For Table-Topping Terras

Weymouth Reserves started a difficult December programme with a much improved performance that gave them a convincing victory against a strong Lymington & New Milton Reserves at the Wessex Stadium.

A much-improved all-round performance avenged the 2-1 reverse earlier in the season at Fawcett Field.

The visitors started strongly, putting the home side under early pressure, however, the first chance fell to the young Terras. In the 4th minute, following good work down the left hand side between Michael Sajic and Stuart Frear, the ball was crossed and Mark Fitch under pressure went down in the penalty area, but penalty appeals fell upon deaf ears.

Fitch, however, made amends a minute later. Being sent clear down the left hand side by a precision pass from John Lamb, Fitch still had work to do, rounding the keeper before shooting from a sharp angle, seeing the ball strike the post before it rebounded into the net.

This was the ideal start for the young Terras and gave them confidence to keep pressing forward and, in the 12th minute, a powerful shot from John Lamb brought a good save from visiting keeper, Martin.

Carl Mutch played a one-two with Paul Lambert in the 27th minute and, from the resultant pass that put Mutch clear, he hit a powerful shot that left the visiting keeper no chance. The ball cannoned off the underside of the bar to put the young Terras two goals up.

The Terras were by now completely in command but, in the 34th minute, a rare visitors’ attack saw home keeper Paul Gadsby make a sharp diving save to his right.

Half-Time: Weymouth Reserves 2 Lymington & NM Reserves 0

The first chance of the second half fell to Michael Sajic who, in the clear, failed to beat the visiting keeper with a deft chip.

In the 59th minute, Stuart Frear increased the Terras advantage with a neat shot into the right hand corner after the visitors failed to clear a strong run by Carl Mutch.

In the 64th minute the visitors were reduced to 10 men when following a fracas between Mark Fitch and the visitors’ defender Wayne Smith. Both players were cautioned, however, Smith had already been cautioned in the 51st minute and was sent from the field for a second causable offence. Over zealous referring then saw no less than four players cautioned in as many minutes.

Michael Sajic burst through a hit the post on 67 minutes, the ball rebounded to the same player whose shot was then immediately cleared from the line to safety.

With six minutes remaining, Stuart Frear had a golden opportunity to increase the Terras advantage, but hit a poor shot that was easily saved by Martin.

It was all one way at this point, with the Terras pressing forward to increase their advantage, but they were denied by a couple of sharp saves by keeper Martin. Despite playing against 10 men for the last 26 minutes, the home side were unable to increase their advantage.

A solid Terras defence saw the visitors limited to just a couple of chances which provided the crowd with full entertainment on a cold and windswept Wessex Stadium.

Top Terras: Stuart Frear

Weymouth Reserves:
Paul Gadsby, Critchell, Scott Dennis, Nathan Walker, Paul Lambert (Hill 63mins), Carl Mutch 1,
Michael Sajic, Bichard (Mark Nicholson 71), Stuart Frear 1, Mark Fitch 1, John Lamb (Gerry De la Planque 84)
Goals: Fitch, Mutch, Frear

Attendance: 61