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Late flurry is not enough as Bedworth shock Weymouth
WEYMOUTH’S winning run of three league games came to a crashing halt as lowly Bedworth United provided a shock result at the Oval.
Despite a consolation from AFC Bournemouth loanee Sam Surridge and Adam Kelly’s goal in the game’s dying moments, the Terras were left with nothing to show for their efforts as goals from Daniel Creaney, Daniel Dubidat and Elliot Parrot ensured Bedworth ran out winners.
With Redditch’s game against Poole Town postponed due to a waterlogged pitch, Weymouth knew a win against Bedworth would put them within four points of the Dolphins in the Evo-Stik Southern Premier Division going into their upcoming Dorset derby.
Manager Jason Matthews was forced into making two changes from the side that defeated Kettering a week previously.
As expected, George Rigg’s cut above the eye kept him out of the squad. Dean Evans also served the first of his two-match ban.
That meant the experienced duo of Chris McPhee and Mark Molesley came into the visitors’ starting XI. Tim Sills and Jordan Copp were recalled to the bench.
Bedworth went into the encounter in deep trouble of relegation, with just 19 points coming from 32 league games.
The Greenbacks were without a win since Boxing Bay and were also the victim of an 8-1 beating at the hands of Redditch United earlier in the month.
Their manager Stuart Storer remained upbeat about their battle to beat the drop however.
In the build-up to the game with the Terras, he told the Nuneaton News: “We will not give up until the very end. The players know that myself and the other members of staff just won’t let that happen.
“To be fair the morale of the lads has stayed high. They know what we are up against this season. They know the challenge.”
The home side also added journeyman striker Iyseden Christie to their squad earlier in the week – he was named among the Greenbacks’ substitutes.
After a quiet opening 15 minutes, it was Bedworth who took a 1-0 lead.
A free-kick from Weymouth’s Chris Shephard was blocked and, in almost the blink of an eye, the Greenbacks raced up the other end to net the opener through Creaney.
After Bedworth spurned a glorious chance to make it 2-0, Weymouth then carved out their first real opportunity of the game.
Shephard’s cross was met by striker Ben Thomson, but the former Frome Town man could not quite get enough power on his effort.
Matthews, who warned his side against complacency ahead of the contest, was then tasked with making a save from a header just before the end of what was a disappointing first half for the visitors.
Shephard, who had been struggling with a back problem going into the contest, was replaced by AFC Bournemouth loanee Surridge at the interval, as the Terras looked to respond quickly in the second half.
But, despite that change, it was the Greenbacks who doubled their advantage on 51 minutes through striker Dubidat.
Both sides were then reduced to 10 men as Weymouth’s Jake Wannell, who had been cautioned minutes earlier, was given his marching orders for a second booking by referee Marvyn Amphlett, as well as Bedworth’s Daniel Kavanagh being shown a straight red card in an altercation between the pair.
It then got even worse for the Terras as Elliot Parrot then added a third after 62 minutes, seemingly wrapping up three priceless points for the home side. Billy Lowes was replaced by Copp soon after for Matthews’ men.
Surridge then opened the visitors’ account for the afternoon to make it 3-1 and club captain Stewart Yetton was introduced in place of Thomson with 15 minutes to go.
Copp then spurned a glorious opportunity to get his side right back in the game as, after the Terras won a penalty, he blazed the ball over the bar.
It was too little too late for Weymouth when Adam Kelly netted in the dying moments to make it 3-2.
That strike was not to make up for what was a poor day at the office for the Terras, who are now eight points off the pace of new leaders Chippenham Town.
