Weymouth claim late draw at Winchester City

WEYMOUTH 2

Trialist 84, Goodship 90

WINCHESTER CITY 2

Cook 6, Rawkins 30

WEYMOUTH manager Mark Molesley admitted there is a big week ahead for his side in training, after late goals from a trialist and Brandon Goodship rescued a draw at Winchester City.

First-half goals from Joe Cook and Joe Rawkins had handed the Citizens a 2-0 lead, which they came close to extending on numerous occasions.

Molesley said: “I think on reflection we created more than enough chances, on another day we do take them.

“I would rather see us stumble a bit in pre-season and hope it clicks a little bit in time for next week but the signs are there for the good bits but the signs are there that we have still got to work hard.

“It is a big week for us in training, we need to make sure that we right a few wrongs and know exactly how we are going to go at it for this Saturday.”

Weymouth began the afternoon by the announcement of a triple signing, as Josh McQuoid, Antonio Diaz and Matt Casey have all joined the club.

Casey joins the club from Portsmouth on work experience forms, while Diaz returns to Weymouth after a spell at the Bob Lucas Stadium last season.

Former Bournemouth man McQuoid joins the Terras after appearing for the Cherries in the Legends match against Weymouth.

Winchester thrashed Weymouth’s Ridgeway rivals Dorchester Town 5-1 on Wednesday and again showed the same level of incisiveness early on.

They took the lead in the sixth minute through Joe Cook, who slotted in after Weymouth goalkeeper Jordan Seabright parried an effort.

The Terras were struggling to get into the match, with nice build-up play but little end result, while Winchester had two great opportunities to extend their lead.

Josh Cocklin had a free header from inside the Terras’ box, which Seabright did well to palm over the bar, while Ashley Wells cleared away a certain goal after Oli Bailey had rounded the Weymouth goalkeeper.

The Citizens did grab a second goal on the half-hour mark, when Joe Rawkins fired through Seabright’s legs.

Soon after a late tackle on Ben Thomson prevented a superb chance for Weymouth, before Winchester broke away and Bailey fired at Seabright.

At the break Casey came on for Stephane Zubar as Weymouth re-jigged their defence.

Weymouth looked more assured in the second-half, with Winchester more restricted yet hit the bar twice in quick succession early on.

Weymouth were left frustrated when McQuoid fired in on the 70th minute but the referee had just blown the whistle for a free-kick to the Terras.

The Terras were getting closer to a goal back but it finally arrived when a trialist fired through the box, with the shot taking a deflection past Ryan Pryce late on.

Goodship then curled in after 90 minutes to seal the draw which on the Terras’ second half efforts was merited despite the incision displayed by their opponents.

Winchester City: Pryce, Howard, King, Gale, Roberts, Cocklin, Rawkins, Cook, Bailey, Barron, Carr. Subs: Mlambo, Rusher, Koroma, Mitford, Clarke, Andrews, Davis

Terras: Seabright (Thomas 72), Wells, Buckley, Carmichael, Zubar (Casey 46), McCarthy, Baggie (Diaz 72), Davis (Farrugia 72), Thomson (Baker 72), Goodship, McQuoid (Trialist 72).

Attendance: 105