Match Preview
As Weymouth play hosts to bottom of the table Gosport Borough on Monday afternoon, both of these sides will feel that they need the points for different reasons.
Weymouth still sit in third place in the Evo-Stik Southern Premier League table and Mark Molesley’s promotion hopefuls only need 4 more points to be mathematically certain of a place in the playoffs. Gosport come to the Bob Lucas Stadium having picked up a point at home to Biggleswade Town on Saturday at a boggy Privett Park. They are now 3 points behind second bottom, Dunstable Town so will be desperate to try and get above them and keep their Southern Premier League status.
Meanwhile, the Terras had their game at Kettering Town postponed due to the horrendous wet weather that has swept across the country. The high flying Terras continued their fantastic form last Tuesday night, beating fellow promotion chasers Slough Town 1-0 at the Bob Lucas Stadium.
Current League Standings
| # | Team | Pl | HW | HD | HL | AW | AD | AL | W | D | L | F | A | Diff | Pts |
| 3 | Weymouth | 40 | 14 | 3 | 3 | 12 | 3 | 5 | 26 | 6 | 8 | 89 | 42 | 47 | 84 |
| 24 | Gosport Borough | 39 | 1 | 3 | 16 | 1 | 1 | 17 | 2 | 4 | 33 | 28 | 127 | -99 | 10 |
Team News
Mark Molesley continues to have a full strength squad to choose from.
News From The Terras
Speaking to theterras.com Paul Maitland said “We welcome Gosport Borough to the Bob Lucas for another game of huge significance for both clubs for very different reasons, whilst we are striving to rubber stamp our play off position, Gosport are fighting for there lives to stay in the division.
“We welcome Gosport Borough to the Bob Lucas for another game of huge significance for both clubs for very different reasons, whilst we are striving to rubber stamp our play off position, Gosport are fighting for their lives to stay in the division.
Although we recorded a 4-0 win at Gosport on New Years Day, we had to work hard to secure it and they are a much changed side since then and will provide a stern test for us.
With Saturday’s game postponed at Kettering, the season continues to take the twist and turns and we must remain focused on what’s ahead and be ready to adjust our plans accordingly.
Here’s hoping the weather remains kind and that we are able to attract a good size crowd to the game and the fans forum after”.
News From The Boro’
Since the departure of Alex Pike for the second time in a year, Gosport have been looking to pick up form and have signed former Weymouth trialist Sam Lanahan. Acting managers, Rowan Vine, Louie Bell and Jay Keating are hoping that their squad can retain their status and keep the club in the division. They have a mouth-watering fixture against second bottom Dunstable Town to come, along with fixtures against St Ives Town, Chesham United, Kettering Town, Frome Town and St Neots Town from now until the end of the campaign.
One to Watch- Rowan Vine
The former Portsmouth, Luton Town, Birmingham City, Queens Park Rangers, St Johnstone, Hibernian and Greenock Morton forward will try and bring his experience into proceedings the visitors. Vine jointly has the task of trying to keep Gosport in the league as he has taken on a joint interim manager role at the club.
The Stats Say
Weymouth and Gosport Borough have met 4 times in the past 6 years with Weymouth winning 2 games and the other 2 ending in draws, notably for the Terras they defeated Gosport Borough in the FA Cup last season when the Boro’ were still a National League South side.
In the past 4 meetings between the two sides there have been 16 goals, 11 of these in Weymouth’s favour and 5 of these for Gosport Borough.
Admission Info
Adults – £11
Concessions – £8
Children (Under 16s) – £3
Bob Lucas Stadium,
Radipole Lane
Weymouth
Dorset
DT4 9XJ
Last Time We Met
Brandon Goodship, Ben Thomson and Abdulai Baggie helped Weymouth start the new year off with a bang by securing a convincing 4-0 win at Gosport Borough in the Evo-Stik Southern Premier Division.
Goodship grabbed a brace while Thomson and Baggie both hit the target as the Terras extended their unbeaten run to seven matches, despite having to endure a tough first half as they faced a stern Gosport side.
Weymouth were able to welcome back Mark Cooper to the bench after his three-match suspension, which was picked up in the 1-0 win at home against Chesham United at the start of December.
The day before the match Gosport had appointed Carl Bennett as assistant-manager and also announced the signings of former Dorchester captain Nathan Walker and Corey Cherritt.
Weymouth had another familiar face against them as former loanee Pat Suraci was in the starting line-up for the game.
Toby Down’s loan spell with Weymouth has come to an end and he has since joined Taunton Town from Exeter.
Prior to the match there had been concerns about whether it would go ahead but efforts to clear water from the pitch were successful as Weymouth manager Mark Molesley helped out.
The first half began in an even fashion with the two sides well matched in the early stages as Weymouth found it tough to break down Gosport.
The visitors were the first to go close in the match when former Gosport player Josh Carmichael’s free-kick from 25 yards hit a post.
Dale Mason had a good run down the wing for Gosport and the resulting cross saw Conor Davis head over.
Suraci was having an eventful start to the game as he forced Tom Price into a good save to prevent an own goal.
Suraci was also influential at the other end as a move forward saw a cross across the box which Davis could not quite get on the end of.
A good move in the 24th minute saw Goodship play in Josh Wakefield but his shot was well saved by Price.
Price had been doing well to keep out Weymouth, who were growing into the match as the half went on.
Gosport were defending well as they made plenty of blocks and Price made good saves to hold out Weymouth, who were having to be patient.
Eventually the pressure on the Gosport goal provided a breakthrough in first-half stoppage time, Goodship gave Weymouth the lead with his fifth goal in three games as he burst into the box before smashing the ball into the net from close range for a half-time lead.
The Terras would not need to wait long before their lead was extended as the second half proved to be considerably more one-sided.
In the 56th minute, an interception in the middle of the field from Stephane Zubar helped to start a move that resulted in Goodship scoring again and doubling the Terras’ lead.
Wakefield found space and cut back towards Goodship who took a touch and then firing the ball into the bottom left-hand corner of the net.
Baggie performed well after going on for Wakefield in the 64th minute and he proved influential as the Terras again extended the lead in the 67th minute.
Baggie cut the ball back to Thomson who turned and took a shot from the edge of the box that beat Price in the Gosport goal for his eighth of the season.
The Terras were dominating as keeper Mark Travers was left relatively untroubled during the second half.
Price in the Gosport goal was being put under considerable pressure as Weymouth threatened to further extend their already considerable lead.
In the 85th minute, the Terras added further gloss to the scoreline as Baggie grabbed a fourth goal as he fired in from distance which crashed in off a post.
This proved to be the last notable action of the match for Weymouth as they wrapped up a convincing win on the road.
A a result of the match Gosport stay bottom while Weymouth remain third in the table.
Weymouth are next in action on Saturday at the Bob Lucas Stadium against Bishop’s Stortford, who are currently 19th in the table.
Gosport Borough: Price, Breed, Watts (Cherritt 73), Wakely, Medway, Walker, Mason (Paige 90), Smith, Mayes, Davis (Lis 66), Suraci.
Subs not used: Walters, Onwauchwu
Terras: Travers, Wells, Sa, Zubar, Buckley, Carmichael, Davis, Wakefield (Baggie 64), Thomson (Ngalo 71), Goodship (Baker 71), Brooks. Subs not used: Cooper, Boore
Attendance: 418
Terras Man of the Match: Brandon Goodship
Match Report: Dorset Echo
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