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Saints strike twice as Matthews’ men sunk
WEYMOUTH fell to their second successive 2-0 defeat as they were punished by St Neots Town at the Bob Lucas Stadium.
An own goal from Weymouth player-manager Jason Matthews followed by Jordan Patrick’s second-half header meant the home side slipped to their third league loss of the campaign.
Terras’ boss Matthews revealed to Echosport in the build-up to the contest that he suffered a dislocated finger in his side’s 2-0 defeat at Frome on Wednesday.
But he was passed fit to start himself against the Saints, who had taken seven points from their opening four league outings.
One switch did come in the Weymouth starting XI from their midweek disappointment and with it brought a change of shape. Striker Sam Jordan returned to the starting line-up in place of winger Aaron Rodriguez.
After dealing with a couple of early chances from the away side it was Jordan who had the first sight on goal for the Terras.
He timed his run well to latch on to a neat through ball from Chris Shephard, but, when skipping past a defender, saw his shot smothered by Alex Archer in the Saints’ goal.
From the resulting corner, Shephard drilled the ball into the path of defender Jake Wannell, who had got away from his man having come up from the back.In swinging a left boot at it, he failed to make contact.
Jordan then required treatment after picking up a knock but was okay to continue.
It was by no means all Weymouth in the opening 20 minutes as a neat set-piece move from the away side allowed the ball to be knocked down for striker James Hall, whose strike forced a decent save.
But there was nothing Matthews could do in the home goal on 29 minutes however, as the Saints’ took the lead in unfortunate circumstances for the Terras’ player-boss.
Patrick’s effort from range was tipped onto the bar by the home keeper. The ball cannoned back off the crossbar, rebounded off Matthews, and into the net.
That was how it stayed until the break, as Weymouth, despite seeing a lot of the ball, failed to create anything really clear cut.
Just two minutes after the interval, Matthews pulled off a cracker of a save to deny Patrick, who tried his luck once more.
The winger cut in and smashed an effort, which looked to be heading for the far corner, but the Terras’ chief flew to his left to keep the strike out.
Archer was then worked at the other end as the Terras looked to find a leveller and a devilish ball from Ashley Wells was not attacked by the hosts after the full-back made a blistering run down the right soon after.
Jordan was in the wars again as he suffered another blow and was replaced by Rodriguez on the hour mark.
But, although Rodriguez showed some trickery and some nice touches after coming on, it was the visitors that took a two-goal lead and it was that man Patrick again who continued to cause problems.
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As part of a sweeping Saints’ move, they made Weymouth pay as Declan Rogers played in Patrick, whose initial effort was saved by Matthews.
But the Saints’ number-11 was then on hand in the aftermath to nod the rebound home and give his side a two-goal cushion.
Weymouth then brought on Stewart Yetton and Jordan Copp for Shephard and Wells respectively, and piled on the pressure in a bid to get back in the game.
Yetton went close after a devilish ball in from the right caused a melee in the Saints’ six-yard box, with the ball eventually hitting the bar. Thomson then let fly with a strike which crashed off the woodwork moments later.
Weymouth’s afternoon in front of goal was summed up in stoppage time as Charlie Davis’ low drive was flicked on by Yetton but he could not turn the ball on target, as the Terras fell to a disappointing defeat.
