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Yetts on target as Weymouth seal a point at Biggleswade Town
A STEWART Yetton strike ensured Weymouth put an end to their run of three straight defeats as they pouched a point at Biggleswade Town.
Yetton popped up with the leveller just short of the interval to net his first league goal since Boxing Day and deny the Waders the chance to go above the Terras in the Evo-Stik Southern Premier Division.
With Adam Kelly confirming his switch to Salisbury a day previously, Jordan Copp came into Weymouth player-manager Jason Matthews’ starting XI.
There was still no Chris McPhee and Chris Shephard was also out of the visitors’ match day squad. Midfielder Matt Buse returned to the bench for the Terras.
Hosts Biggleswade went into the contest knowing that a win against Weymouth would give them a league double over Matthews’ men.
When the two sides tussled at the Bob Lucas Stadium earlier in the campaign, Biggleswade’s Sam Merson popped up to score with his first touch just two minutes after coming on as a second-half substitute.
He was once again named among the Waders’ replacements.
And it was the home team who started brightly and forced Matthews into making a good save in the Weymouth goal inside the opening few minutes.
Home striker Inih Effiong looked up for the task for his side in the opening exchanges.
At the other end, Terras’ striker Yetton saw his header fall wide as he attempted to break the deadlock, fellow frontman Ben Thomson then just failed to get on the end of a ball that was played forward.
But, with around 20 minutes gone, Weymouth fell behind as Effiong slotted home from a free-kick from inside the Terras’ box. That sparked Terras protests’ to referee Alistair Wilson as to why the free-kick was awarded in the first place.
Looking to get back on level terms, Weymouth midfielder Mark Molesley then forced a top-draw save in the Waders’ goal from Garry Malone, Dean Evans then blasted over when the ball fell to him a few minutes later.
But Weymouth did get their leveller and it was that man Yetton who put the ball home to equalise.
A ball in from Mark Cooper found George Rigg. He pulled the ball back to the former Plymouth Argyle man, who made no mistake to hammer home and give the Terras a foothold in the contest before the break.
Copp then delivered a devilish corner, which somehow evaded everyone as the sides went in at the break level.
Yetton and Thomson combined nicely following the interval, with the former hitting an effort that was saved as Biggleswade struggled to keep possession.
Another chance then went begging for the visitors as Cooper played a ball in for Yetton, who, unmarked, failed to hit the target – he was then denied once again seconds later as part of a flurry of Weymouth opportunities.
Merson was then introduced for the Waders as part of a double change that also saw Effiong replaced. Tony Burnett also came on after a spell out through injury.
Matthews was then tasked by making a sharp double-save to keep his side in it.
And with just minutes remaining, Thomson went close once again in search of a winner as he was denied.
That was not the end of the drama however, as Merson almost sealed the game for the Waders after coming off the bench for the second time against Weymouth this season.
He struck a post in the dying moments as both sides were left to settle for a share of the spoils.
