Weymouth beaten as title wait goes on

A SPILLED Charlie Losasso free-kick put to bed hopes of any title celebrations as Weymouth were beaten 1-0 at Beaconsfield Town in the Evo-Stik Southern Premier South.

The goal, in the 69th minute, bounced off Weymouth goalkeeper Tom McHale’s palms and into the net to beat the Terras, who saw Brandon Goodship miss a late penalty.

Weymouth could have won the title if they had won and results elsewhere went their way but regardless of the score at Holloways Park, Taunton beat Kings Langley meaning even a victory would not have been good enough to secure the title.

There was one change as Stephane Zubar came in for Cameron Murray.

Credit must go to Jack Martin, who made the bench despite playing for the FA Schools team’s 2-0 win over Ireland in Dublin the night before.

It was an even start at Holloways Park, with the first real threat being a great move forward from Beaconsfield.

It was started with a ball towards Louis Stead, who hit a good cross on the half-volley but found no-one in the box.

The ball was then recycled and another cross found the head of Jon-Jo Bates but he headed over McHale’s bar.

Weymouth were having chances and an early free-kick into the box failed to find Sam Sherring, while Yemi Odubade was intercepted on the edge of the Rams’ box.

The first moment of controversy came when Ben Thomson was taken down 25 yards out by Jerome Ecclestone.

Thomson would have been straight through on goal but other defenders were level with him as Ecclestone received a yellow card and Goodship slammed the free-kick against the wall.

Weymouth’s best chance early on would come in identical circumstances, however.

Thomson was again fouled by Ecclestone, but this time Josh Wakefield slid a low pass across to Baggie, who crossed in only for Odubade to powerfully head straight at Ravan Constable in the Rams’ goal.

However, the half was about two well-matched teams cancelling each other out, as they went in 0-0 at the break.

The second half began seemingly determined to be the antithesis of the first as the chances rained in from the start.

Firstly, the Rams saw an early deflected free-kick swerve and McHale could only shield it out towards Bates, off whom the ball bounced and out for a goal-kick.

Goodship then rifled an effort over, while Thomson hit an effort wide on the turn.

Weymouth should have had a penalty in the 52nd minute.

Odubade broke forward down the right, passed to Goodship who was forced out wide, but his cross hit an outstretched arm from the home side five yards away but nothing was given.

Bates then was unable to make a good connection on a ball forward as both teams continued to test the defences.

Odubade brought out a brilliant save from Constable after 66 minutes, when from a tight angle Constable just about managed to tip the effort over the bar.

When the breakthrough did come, it was in surprising circumstances.

A Losasso free-kick was hit straight at McHale but it bounced off his palms and over him and into the net after 69 minutes.

The Terras seemed stunned, and two minutes later Wakefield was taken off, to which he reacted by slamming his drinks bottle on the ground, with Murray coming on in his place.

The goal came at a time when the Met Police were behind at Swindon Supermarine and Kings Langley had halved their deficit at Taunton.

This meant that, if the Terras were able to craft a lead at Beaconsfield, and Kings Langley were able to equalise at Taunton, the Terras would win the title.

The Terras did recover however, and Murray soon found himself curling an effort over the bar with the outside of his boot.

Constable had a fine game for the home side, as he again denied the Terras by putting a fine Odubade strike over the bar.

Baggie was taken down in the box as Weymouth earned a late penalty, but Goodship slid it narrowly wide and despite a further flurry of chances the Terras fell to defeat.

The Terras host Chesham United on Saturday (3pm).

Beaconsfield Town: Constable, Nolan, Balogun, York, Ecclestone, Daly, Stead, Ajanlekoko, Matthew, Bates (Brown 84), Losasso (Minhas 83). Subs not used: Neville, Gogo, Cathline.

Terras: McHale, Brooks, Ngalo, Sherring, Zubar (Carmichael 83), McCarthy, Odubade (Baker 89), Wakefield (Murray 78), Thomson, Goodship, Baggie. Subs not used: Martin, Wells

Attendance: 297