Match Preview
This Saturday afternoon sees Weymouth involved an important game for both sides involved, as Chesham United look to keep pressure on the top 5 in their bid for a playoff place in the Evo-Stik League Southern Premier.
Last weekend The Terras coasted to a 2-0 victory against Dunstable Town in the bitter cold, but now face a tough challenge from an in-form Chesham United side who have had a history of making things difficult for Weymouth. The Generals will be well rested with their last game coming on 10th March when they drew 0-0 at home to Hitchin Town.
Weymouth continued their good form last week and have won 7 of their last 8 games, their only defeat coming away to Hereford. Chesham United have also been in reasonably good form having not tasted defeat since they were beaten away to St Neots Town on 3rd February, a run of 6 games.
The Generals are currently lead by Jon Meakes who became manager when long-serving manager Andy Leese was sacked in March 2017, Jon had previous worked as assistant to Leese during his time at the club. Meakes was originally working alongside Danny Talbot in a joint-manager role until Talbot left the club to become a full-time scout at Championship side Fulham last August.
Wins for Hereford and King’s Lynn Town in midweek meant that both sides have pulled away from Weymouth, and a win for Kettering Town means the Poppies have now closed the gap to 2 points. Weymouth won’t be able to climb any places in the table regardless of results, but defeat for the Terras and if Kettering Town win at home to Frome Town could see the Poppies overtake Weymouth.
Elsewhere in the top 6, Slough Town travel to Basingstoke Town, Hereford are at home to Gosport Borough and King’s Lynn Town are away to Redditch United.
Current League Standings
| # | Team | Pl | HW | HD | HL | AW | AD | AL | W | D | L | F | A | Diff | Pts |
| 3 | Weymouth | 38 | 13 | 3 | 3 | 11 | 3 | 5 | 24 | 6 | 8 | 82 | 42 | 40 | 78 |
| 6 | Chesham United | 37 | 9 | 6 | 4 | 8 | 5 | 5 | 17 | 11 | 9 | 74 | 44 | 30 | 62 |
Team News
Mark Molesley confirmed to theterras.com that he has a fully fit squad to choose from.
“Everyone in my squad is ready and raring to go. As ever there is competition for places within the squad, players are pushing to be involved. The lads have been fantastic and it’s up to them to do their best to see the job through.”
News From The Terras
Mark Molesley spoke to theterras.com ahead of what he called a massive couple of weeks for the club.
“Chesham are a good side, they are not far outside the top five and we know it will be tough. Our boys are in good form and we are in a good place. Every game in this league is tough, it’s been proven on so many occasions this season so this one is no different but we go into it with confidence.
“I think if you said to anyone at the club that we would be in this position right now, everyone would have taken it. It is all in our control, we are in the top five and we are there on merit and it is our job to see it through. We go back to what we always say, we take each game as it comes.
“We have got eight games left, four of which are in the next eight or nine days once the Chesham game starts. This next couple of weeks is massive for the club and we are relishing it.”
News From The Generals
Chesham United fans will be pleased to welcome back the returning Dave Pearce, Generals fans will seeing him as an essential selection after the goal scoring midfielder scored an impressive 48 goals in 156 games during a three season stint at the club.
Pearce was part of Chesham United’s memorable FA Cup runs in 2015/16 and 2016/17 and left last summer to try his luck his luck in the National League South with Oxford City.
Speaking to GetWestLondon Pearce said “It does feel like I’ve got unfinished business here, and I want to try to get Chesham into the play-offs,” said Pearce. “It will be quite tough, but hopefully I can score some goals to help out and give us the best possible chance.
“I had no hesitation in coming back as I really enjoyed my football here. I think I did well enough at Oxford but they have had financial problems, I was on a long contract and they had to let me go.
“Jon Meakes (Chesham’s manager) got in touch when he heard I had left and I didn’t need much persuading. It was a hard decision to leave in the first place but it was a chance to step up a level, and I left on good terms.”
Ones to Watch
Jefferson Louis
Weymouth fans will need no introduction to Chesham United’s Jefferson Louis. Louis is Chesham United’s in form player up top this season, he sits 8th in the leagues top goal scorers list with 18 goals to his name. He has played for 36 different clubs, being transferred 40 times in his 20 year career. He has represented Dominica at international level playing in a 2010 World Cup qualifier. Chesham United, who currently sit one place off the playoffs, are going to need his experience and form if they are going to push for promotion this season. The 6ft 2 striker spent a year at Weymouth between 2007 to 2008 scoring 7 goals in 21 league games at the club.
The Stats Say
Weymouth have met Chesham United 16 times over the past 8 years and have found the Generals to be tricky opponents, with Chesham United being victorious on 8 occasions to Weymouth’s 5 wins, 3 games ending in a draw. Chesham United have also convincingly outscored Weymouth over the past 8 years putting 32 goals past the Terras, who could only manage 21 goals in reply. 7 of Chesham United’s goals infamously came when they came from behind to thrash a Weymouth side lead by Jason Matthews 7-2 during the 2014/15 season.
Brandon Goodship scored again last week to make it 10 goals in 10 games, on 29 league goals this season he is currently 3 ahead of Hereford’s John Mills in the race for the Golden Boot.
Admission Info
Adults – £10
Concessions (over 65s, students with ID) – £8
Under 18s – £3
U12s free when accompanied by an adult or concession otherwise £3.
Programme £2.50.
Free Parking.
Chesham United Football Club
The Meadow
Amy Lane
Chesham
Bucks HP5 1NE
Last Time We Met
The last time Weymouth met Chesham United was at the Bob Lucas Stadium in the Evo-Stik League Southern Premier in December 2017. Weymouth had to hang on to a one goal lead with 10-men after Mark Cooper was sent off in the 28th minute.
Abdulai Baggie’s first goal for the club, a great effort from outside the box in the 19th minute, was enough to get the Terras over the line and and continue an unbeaten run in the league which would last 10 games.
Terras: Travers, Cooper, Sa, Zubar, Buckley, Carmichael, Davis, Hayter (Brooks 32), Thomson (Wakefield 90), Goodship (Baker 79), Baggie. Subs not used: Down, Boore.
Goal: Baggie (19′)
Chesham United: Al-Droubi, Reynolds, Dhillon, Bates, Murphy, Pepera, Shamsi, Watkins, Bush, Iaciofano, Swales (McGleish 70). Subs not used: Hutton, Elsahib, Locke, Hayford.
Attendance: 602
Terras Man of the Match: Ben Thomson
