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Defender Brooks dons the goalkeeping gloves as Weymouth secure a point at Kings Langley
WEYMOUTH were left to settle for a point during a contest in which they were left without a recognised goalkeeper at Kings Langley.
The big talking point of the game came before the break when Terras’ keeper Dan Thomas was given a straight red card for bringing down his man outside the box, after racing off his line.
Thomas was back in the Terras’ starting XI having replaced player-manager Jason Matthews, who failed a fitness test with an ongoing tricep injury, meaning he did not name himself on the bench for the clash.
With no recognised keeper to step in after Thomas saw red, up stepped skipper Calvin Brooks to take the gloves and he performed admirably throughout the contest.
Thomas was one of two changes from the Weymouth side that beat Poole Town in midweek, the other switch came as Mark Cooper returned from suspension to replace Aaron Rodriguez. That meant Jordan Copp was given a more advanced role.
After an early chance for the home side, Copp took aim but shot straight at Kings’ keeper Xavi Comas.
It was then the turn of Ben Thomson to go one-on-one with the keeper but he failed to find the net as the Terras looked for the breakthrough.
But then, disaster struck.
Out raced Thomas, who got nowhere near the ball and brought down his man – he was dismissed, leaving the Terras in all sorts of bother with Matthews unable to take to the field.
But, from the resulting free-kick, stand-in stopper Brooks produced a fine save to keep the score goalless.
Following the break, Weymouth were then given the opportunity to take the lead when they were awarded a penalty.
Up stepped Chris Shephard on 50 minutes, who smashed the ball into the corner past Comas to make it 1-0.
Brooks then continued his heroics by commanding his box well but 18 minutes from time, the home side were caught out.
A free-kick from Dean Hitchcock was fired into the bottom corner, making it 1-1 and setting up a tense finale.
With Ashley Wells coming on for Copp and then Conor Jevon taking to the field in place of Thomson, Weymouth had a glorious chance to seal all three points.
Stuart Fleetwood ran in on goal and went one-on-one with the keeper, but failed to take his chance as the Terras were left to settle for a valiant point.
