WEYMOUTH manager Mark Molesley was pleased with a fantastic defensive display as the Terras held on for a 1-0 victory against Chesham United despite being going down to 10 men midway through the first half.
Abdulai Baggie scored with a shot from the edge of the box on the 19th minute after being set up by Ben Thomson but Mark Cooper was sent off nine minutes later.
Molesley praised his side’s defensive work saying: “It was fantastic, I’m really really pleased. We were organised, resolute after going down to 10 men for so long of the game.”
The red card meant that Molesley took off James Hayter and sent on Calvin Brooks, who was returning from injury.
Brooks went on earlier than anticipated as Molesley explained: “It was never the plan to bring him on that early. Calvin was raring to go which was great being under precaution having only trained with us for the first time on Thursday.”
“He was only down to play half an hour.”
The Terras have no midweek match coming up, which Molesley is grateful for saying: “Fortunately we haven’t got a midweek game so we can rest a few people.”
After the red card, Weymouth faced a spell of pressure where the defence had to stand firm as the attack had trouble finding the same rhythm they had before the red card.
Molesley was pleased with the character of his side for coping with the early sending off.
Molesley said: “Out there I saw, including the substitutions, 14 men standing up and were counted and that’s what I’m really pleased with.
“It was always going to be difficult against a good, in-form Chesham side.”
In their midweek match Weymouth had a similarly eventful match as they came from 3-1 down to draw 3-3.
Molesley praised goalkeeper Mark Travers saying: “I thought that Mark Travers in the sticks was very assured, very mature. He came and claimed the ball but he ultimately didn’t have many saves to make.”
The home side picked up offensively in the second half and did well as they had two early chances through Charlie Davis and Brandon Goodship narrowly failed to get to a ball sent upfield by Baggie.
The manager was pleased with the second half offensive performance, saying: “Tommo nearly got in a couple of times and we had a couple of good chances ourselves, just slightly overrun a couple of passes when we were in and broken away.”
Despite being happy Molesley doesn’t want to get carried away: “I really feel the boys are giving the town and club something to believe in and something to cheer. We’re definitely not getting carried away. We know we’re in a bit of a false position with the other teams having a lot of games in hand.”
Molesley reflected: “I thought at the end of the day from half time we executed our game plan superbly and that took a lot of discipline, concentration and professionalism.”
“I think the town and the club can see that there is a young set of lads here trying to grow and working and showing the right attitude.
“I think they deserve all the credit.”
Weymouth now face three successive away games starting at Dunstable Town on Saturday.
