WEYMOUTH manager Mark Molesley was delighted to see Harry Baker make his return after a head injury and put in a great performance in the 2-1 win against Biggleswade Town in the Evo-Stik Southern Premier Division on Saturday.
Baker suffered the injury in the 3-0 win against Royston Town on February 17, after a dreadful challenge from Sam Gaughran that saw the Royston man sent off.
Molesley said: “It was great to see Harry Baker back around us after something like that, it was a bit of a horrific challenge on him and at one point we were fearing the worst but it is great to get him back out.”
Baker came on in the 66th minute, incidentally the same minute he was subbed off when he sustained the injury, and immediately marked his return with a bang as he forced Biggleswade goalkeeper Liam Gooch into a fingertip save.
Molesley explained: “He was really unlucky not to score straight away with a great run across the line and fingertips from the keeper just put it on to the post and agonisingly just bounced back out.
“It was great to have him back involved.”
Baker again went close later on in the match in the 87th minute but unfortunately for him the goalkeeper was again equal to it.
Baker’s return adds to the competition for places, with the club currently looking for a wide player.
Molesley said: “We made a couple of changes from the Hereford game and it was based on conditions and things like that. No one has made themselves drop-able.”
Molesley admits that it is a headache with trying to fit players in with the performances he is seeing from his side.
Molesley said: “Everyone is fighting for a place and everyone is deserves to be playing really so it gives me a headache at the moment.
“I just hope that we keep fit and we keep focused and it shows that we can rotate the squad as well.”
The Terras have just Mark Cooper to return to the squad now as he builds up match fitness.
He has played in Melksham Town’s last three matches in the and scored in their 8-2 win against Wells City Toolstation Western Premier Division at the weekend.
He last appeared on the bench for Weymouth in the 3-1 win over St Neots Town but his last appearance was in the 1-0 defeat to Larkhall Athletic in January.
Molesley paid tribute to Cooper as he said: “He is a player we admire and like a lot and we are really pleased to get him back on board.
Cooper has had a difficult season as Molesley explained: “He has had a real stop start season with him starting at Chippenham and then coming to us then he finally caught up his match fitness then unfortunately he got suspended but then illness and injury and we just have not been able to give him a run at it.”
Discussing Cooper’s playing time at Melksham Molesley said: “There is no point in me carting him around the country and him sitting on the bench because when we need Coops I need him match fit and ready to go.
“At the moment he is getting some match fitness and then getting himself back up to speed and ready to push for a place with us.”
