Photo: Tim Norbury
WEYMOUTH assistant-manager Paul Maitland has heaped praise on Mark Travers and Ben Thomson for their starring role in the Terras’ thrilling 3-2 win over Bishop’s Stortford.
Thomson scored a first-half brace against the Blues, while goalkeeper Travers made a number of excellent stops before winning the game with an extraordinary goal from inside his own half on 77 minutes.
And Maitland insisted that Travers “without a doubt” intended to score having seen opposite number Nicky Eyre off his line.
He told Echosport: “It was a full 75 yards. He meant it, without a doubt. He shaped to play it in to Ben and at the last minute he’s seen the keeper off his line and lifted it over him.
“You knew as soon as he hit it that the keeper was in trouble. He’s not got anywhere near it. Brandon Goodship almost did a similar thing.
“On top of that, Mark’s made a valuable contribution and made some superb saves. All in all he’s had a very good day.”
Maitland was also pleased by the Terras’ players’ reaction to conceding in the first minute, a role reversal from Wednesday night when Josh Wakefield netted at Frome in 28 seconds.
“We’ve played a square ball and been punished,” he said. “But we played very well. We came back into the game in the first half and we were on top.
“Bishop’s Stortford are a good side with two very good forwards. We did well to get to half-time 2-1 up. Second half we had to dig in. To a man they have stood up and were counted.
“We had a couple of chances to put the game to bed but it was a really good three points.”
Commenting further on Travers, who made his league debut for the Terras, Maitland said the goalkeeper would never forget his strike.
“That’s his league debut for us. He’s never going to forget this no matter what he achieves in football. The other side is that he’s been very assured and had a good relationship with the back three.”
On Thomson, Maitland believes the forward is “reaping the benefits” of some improvements made to his game.
“Ben’s worked really hard over the summer to get himself in the very best condition he could. We’ve tweaked a few things in his game and he’s reaping the benefits of that.
“He’s been right at the forefront of things we’ve done well and he’s deserved those goals for a lot of hard work that he’s done.”
Given the lengthy trip to Hertfordshire, Maitland was happy to have “ticked off” the fixture.
He said: “I think it’s a good one to have got ticked off. It’s a long way and we have done exceptionally well to come away with the points.
“We’ve come away from home, we’ve worked really hard and we’ve been dogged when we had to, making tackles on the edge of the box and putting bodies on the line.
“We’ve had a good three or four days but it means nothing if we don’t back it up when we’re at home next week.”
Weymouth next face Stratford Town at the Bob Lucas Stadium on Saturday (3pm).
Weymouth Reserves lost 2-0 at home to Folland Sports in Sydenhams Wessex Division One.
