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Weymouth draw a blank with resolute Rebels
WEYMOUTH’S winning run in the Evo-Stik Southern Premier Division was halted as they drew a blank with hosts Slough Town at Holloways Park.
The Terras, who had come into the contest having won their last three games, could not find a way through a stubborn Slough backline, who they had put six past at the Bob Lucas Stadium earlier in the campaign.
With Pat Baldwin unavailable for selection for the away side due to a knee injury, Jake Wannell came into the heart of the Terras’ defence.
Chris Shephard was also recalled to the starting XI in place of Jordan Copp, despite the latter’s goal in midweek.
As expected, there was also a spot on the bench for midfielder Luke WInsper.
Slough went into the contest with not much to play for.
Prior to kick off, they were 15 points off the play-off places and 14 points clear of the bottom four, cemented in mid–table in the league. Defender Tom Williams was making his debut for the hosts on the day.
One of Shephard’s first duties on his return to the Terras’ starting line-up was to whip in an early free-kick, as he looked to find in-form striker Ben Thomson, but the Rebels scrambled the ball away.
Thomson then took aim at goal with a shot that was charged down as he looked to increase his impressive tally throughout March.
But it was brothers Scott and Warren Harris who combined nicely for the home side to force the first real chance of the contest with just 10 minutes gone. The latter fired just wide of the post and into the side netting on the angle.
Shephard then forced the first shot on goal as the Terras searched for an opener.
He nipped away from his man and let fly from all of 25 yards to force a smart stop from Mark Scott in the home goal.
As the sides traded blows, Jhai Dhillon then stormed into the Weymouth box and steered the ball across goal and wide.
Neat work in the Terras’ midfield between Mark Molesley and Dean Evans then saw the away side find Stewart Yetton, who hit the ball over while stretching for the chance.
Minutes later, the former Plymouth frontman put the ball a whisker wide on the turn.
Following the break, Slough’s Ryan Hope struck well wide for the home side and Weymouth’s Calvin Brooks was left to receive treatment after picking up a knock.
With clear chances few and far between, Thomson hit a 30-yard effort which Scott gathered comfortably. Evans was then cautioned just past the hour mark.
With just more than 15 minutes remaining, the Terras looked to freshen things up as Yetton was replaced by Copp.
Shephard was booked by the match official for apparent simulation soon after and then could not make the most of a Terras’ free-kick in a dangerous area soon after, as the visitors looked to put the squeeze on and find a late goal.
But the Rebels then almost hit Matthews’ men with a sucker punch as substitute Gurkan Gokmen lofted the ball through for fellow replacement Lee Barney but Barney volleyed the ball out of the ground.
Shephard was replaced by Cameron Brown for the away side and Gokmen forced Matthews into making a sublime save to tip the ball over as he struck on goal from outside the area.
At the other end, Brown then almost made an impact in the dying moments as he forced a good save but it was not to be as the game finished goalless.
