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Super Sills as Bluebirds grounded
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| WEYMOUTH came from behind and hung on at the end to make it four Southern Premier League wins on the spin and cap their second away victory of the season at Chippenham Town.After falling behind on 26 minutes, Tim Sills opened his league account for the club with two first-half headers and skipper Stewart Yetton added a third for the visitors on 68 minutes. Boss Jason Matthews was once again consistent in his team selection, having only made one forced change due to the ankle injury Sam Poole picked up against Slough Town on Saturday.
This meant that, as expected, Ed Palmer returned to the heart of the Terras’ defence to partner Jamie Laird. Chippenham themselves gave a start to Swindon Town’s Matt Jones, who they signed on loan earlier in the day, and were given clearance for him to take part in the encounter. The contest started at a rapid pace with Weymouth having a shot blocked off the line from their first corner, and Chippen-ham debutant Jones was allowed too much space from Ashley Wells on the left, as he shot wide. The loanee then tried his luck once again minutes later, and saw his effort go out for a throw- in. Weymouth then came inches away from making it 1-0 when a cross-cum-shot eventually res-ulted in home goalkeeper Kent Kauppinen having to tip the ball on to his crossbar and the Bluebirds managed to scramble the ball away to safety. But after that close shave, it was Chippenham who drew first blood on 26 minutes. Weymouth failed to pick up Bluebirds’ skipper Greg Tindle at the back post, and he comfortably headed the ball into the net to put his side in the lead. Nobody in the Terras’ ranks then followed the run of Luke Ballinger, the skipper of the England futsal team who netted the winner against Dorchester Town last month, he put his chance to double the hosts’ lead just wide. But as the Terras looked set to withstand a wave of pressure before the break, they responded from a corner of their own on 37 minutes as Sills headed home his first league goal for the club at the near post to make it 1-1. And Sills was then on hand once again to give his side a priceless lead at the interval. Chris Shephard, a star performer for Weymouth so far this season was the architect again as he crafted a precise cross for the experienced striker, who could not miss with his head from close range. After the break, the Bluebirds instantly went in search of an equaliser and looked the most likely to make things happen, as James Guthrie’s shot forced a relatively comfortable save from Matthews. Yetton then spurned a golden chance to put daylight between the sides as he showed great awareness to latch on to a weak header back to the goalkeeper Kauppinen. The striker took the ball around the Bluebirds’ stopper, but failed to execute a finish from a tight angle. Kauppinen was then forced into action shortly after as Shephard let fly, and a melee ensued from the resulting corner which Chippenham eventually managed to hack away to safety. Just minutes after spurning his best chance of the game, Yetton was given another opportunity, and made no mistake as he broke clear and calmly found the net with a chipped effort to put the Terras well in the ascendancy at 3-1. A free-kick from Guthrie at the other end was then headed just over when Tindle rose high- est once again, as the hosts then started to throw men forward. They were then rewarded as Matthews gave away his second penalty in two games, having already been on a caution, which Ballinger slotted home for what proved to be a late consolation. For all of their late pressure, the hosts could not breakthrough the stubborn Weymouth resistance once more, as the Terras stood firm for another efficient away win.
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