MARK Molesley says his side will take heart from their good record against the top four as Weymouth prepare to host fellow title-chasers Met Police in a crunch Evo-Stik Southern Premier South encounter at the Bob Lucas Stadium tonight (7.45pm).
The Terras are unbeaten in matches against the fellow top four teams so far this season, having done the double over Salisbury, drawn once and won twice, including a cup game, against Taunton and drew with the Met Police earlier this year.
Molesley said: “We have got to take a lot of heart (from their record against the fellow top six sides), a lot of confidence in that but we take each game in its entirety.
“It is a different game, we cannot judge it against us because we have done this, this and this, this is a completely different game.
“The Met Police have proved what a good side they are, they have scored four goals against us already, fortunately we have scored four goals against them.”
The draw with the Met Police earlier this year was a barnstorming 4-4 at Imber Court, where Weymouth took the lead four times but were pegged back four times, including a final equaliser during injury-time.
Molesley acknowledges that it promises to be an exciting game but said their mantra does not change.
Molesley said: “It promises to be an exciting game but one which we have got to be fully focused and right up for.
“But again just like every game this season, the mantra does not change.
“If anything we have just got to keep believing in ourselves and keep working hard and see where it takes us.”
Molesley also offered an update on the fitness of Callum Buckley, Tiago Sa and Josh McQuoid.
Molesley said: “Buckley, Sa and McQuoid are still on the treatment table unfortunately but hopefully each day they are nearing a return but we just need to be careful not to push too hard and lose them again.
“We have just got to get the timing right with them, fortunately, touch wood, we have come through unscathed (after the 3-0 win against Hartley Wintney) so that is good, especially on that pitch, that was obviously a big concern for us on quite a dry, heavy, hard bobbly, bouncy pitch it is always a worry.
“The boys seem to have come through unscathed which is good and we have managed to survive another game without them and we will just try and have to do that and see where they are next week.”
Weymouth come into the game in very good league form, having seven wins in the past eight games, with a 0-0 draw at Wimborne the other match in that time.
The Met Police are in similar form, with just one defeat in their last 10 matches, the loss coming in a 2-1 reverse to Tiverton Town.
Weymouth go into the match with their title race facing a potentially defining week, in which there are two matches involving two of the top three, starting with tonight’s clash.
On Saturday Weymouth could hold a seven-point lead at the top of the table with four games remaining.
Such a gap can open up should Weymouth beat the Met Police tonight, then a win at home against the already-relegated Staines Town, combined with anything other than a Taunton win in the Peacocks’ match against the Met Police.
That is the best case scenario for the Terras, but a worst case scenario could see either the Met Police or Taunton overtake.
For the latter, Weymouth would have to lose both of their upcoming two games, or draw one and see Taunton win and swing a goal difference of four in the Peacocks’ favour.
For the Met Police to overtake it would require Weymouth to lose tonight, and not beat Staines Town, combined with a win for the Police on Saturday against the Peacocks.
