The u13s Weymouth team kicked off their 2017/18 season by playing host to Swanage Town & Herston in a League cup fixture at Redlands.
This eagerly anticipated clash saw the newly promoted Weymouth, featuring a whopping 6 new signings, take to the field for their first competitive fixture in the Claret & Blue and what a day it proved to be with no less than 3 of the debutants scoring outstanding individual goals.
Despite the weather trying its best to dampen the mood, the Weymouth boys quickly took the lead on 5 mins, with a fine goal from last season’s top scorer Adam after a terrific run and finish from the left of the 18 yard box into the far right hand corner, quickly followed by a truly memorable chipped finish from outside the box by new signing Sol. Swanage seemed a little shell-shocked by these 2 quick-fire goals and were still regrouping when Sol added his second, virtually straight from the restart.
Not to be outdone – Adam then added his second, and Weymouths fourth after a fine piece of team passing play left him through on goal with a simple 1on1 chance, which he duly dispatched low and to the keepers right. Weymouth then visibly appeared to relax and take their foot off the gas which allowed Swanage a way back into the game, and to their credit they took full advantage, scoring twice in quick succession with the Terras goalkeeper, Cam, also being forced to race off his line to stop 2 other chances. With the Weymouth team suddenly looking a little vulnerable it took last seasons Weymouth u12 ‘player of the year’ Charlie to grab the game by the scruff of the neck and finish decisively to put the Terras into a 5 v 2 half time lead.
The second half began and Weymouth, with new found vigour, seemed determined to kill off the game. With the solid defensive base of Alfie, Leon, Asa and Jacob allowing the rest of the team to push forward and some excellent transitional midfield play from the stalwart trio of Reece, Cohen and Charlie a flurry of goals duly arrived. 4 from Thomas, who had shown outstanding determination, technique and finishing ability on his debut , 2 more for Adam and 1 more from the rapid Sol putting the mighty Terras in complete control – with Swanage only managing one effort in reply and Weymouth virtually camping around the Swanage Town 18 yard box for the majority of the second half. Only the excellent Swanage Town goalkeeper and the wall of 7/8 defenders prevented Weymouth Captain (and last seasons ‘supporters player of the year’) Cohen scoring with 2 terrific close range efforts with the second, a ‘back heel’, somehow being cleared from the goal line, with Thomas, Dylan, Luis, Adam and Charlie also being denied from close range.
With the whole Weymouth team now pushing forward ‘gung-ho’ style ,the Swanage team again countered brilliantly, and despite a great diving effort from new goalkeeper Tom, scored again with a shot that cannoned off the underside of the crossbar and down over the line. With the game nearly over it fell to another Weymouth debutant, Dylan, to complete the scoring with an excellent finish from the edge of the box into the side netting, leaving the Swanage keeper with no chance.
Attentions now turn to the League, with Weymouth Cougars at the Marsh being our next opponents in what is sure to be a fiercely contested local derby.
