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Ford finds winner to send Terras out of the Red Insure CupWEYMOUTH recorded back-to-back home defeats in all competitions as a Josh Ford header ensured Paulton Rovers advanced to the next stage of the Red Insure Cup. Ford popped up with what proved to be the winner, heading in from a corner early in the second half, meaning Weymouth were defeated against a side that have only won twice in league action this term. Terras’ chief Jason Matthews, who was pondering whether to give himself a start between the sticks for the first time in the competition this season, opted to hand the gloves to reserve team stopper Steve Boore as one of six changes from the team that started the 2-0 defeat against Hitchin on Saturday. Dean Evans, who bagged the leveller against his old club when the sides met in the league a week previously, was out of the squad all together. One of the more interesting selections for the hosts was the fielding of player-assistant Tim Sills at centre-half alongside Calvin Brooks. Reserve team defender Aston Butcher was named among the substitutes. It was Weymouth’s Adam Kelly who looked the most likely to make something happen in a quiet opening 10 minute spell. Operating on the left flank, the winger’s second charge at his full-back allowed him to get inside the Rovers’ box and fizz a ball across goal that was cleared away. The Terras then came within inches of drawing first blood through George Rigg on 16 minutes. After a foul on the edge of the box, a quick free-kick from the home side caught their visitors cold, allowing Rigg to clip the bar with a stinging effort. At the other end, Rovers then broke the offside trap when Kelvin Douglas played in Tom Knighton. When it looked as if he would be going one-on-one with Boore, he was thwarted by a superb last-ditch challenge by Ashley Wells. Knighton’s evening was to end prematurely however, as, in sprinting for that chance, he pulled up gingerly in the aftermath and was soon replaced by Mario Marcus. That came moments after Kelly and Wannell had combined well on the left and the former forced a sharp stop from Paulton keeper Ben John at his near post. John was then caught slightly out of position as a ball from deep partially foxed the Paulton backline but Ben Thomson blazed well over looking to catch the keeper off his line. But just five minutes after the restart, the Terras fell behind from a set-piece. A corner drilled in found the head of Ford, who glanced the ball into the corner of the net. The away side then almost doubled their advantage when Aaron Brown tested Boore with a powerful drive. Kelly was then cautioned soon after. Boore then pulled off another good stop to keep Weymouth in the hunt, in a period in the game that was lacklustre to say the least. Club captain Stewart Yetton was then brought on in place of Mark Molesley in a bid to make something happen for the home side. Kelly, who was in the thick of it throughout for the hosts, found Wannell, who charged in and put the ball over the stand from the edge of the area. And as much as the Terras rallied with an intense spell of pressure late on, including a big chance which fell to Yetton, it was just not to be the home side’s night.
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