Weymouth held as title contest intensifies

WEYMOUTH 1

Brooks 87

CHESHAM UNITED 1

Clayton 49

ON A DAY where they could have ended up champions, Weymouth’s title hopes suffered a knock as Calvin Brooks rescued a late draw in a 1-1 draw against Chesham United in the Evo-Stik Southern Premier South.

Bradley Clayton had handed the Terras a second-half deficit in an atmosphere that was toxic for large swathes of the game.

The Terras had no change to their starting squad from their 1-0 defeat last week at Beaconsfield Town.

However, the bench saw the return of Josh McQuoid, who has missed a huge part of the season due to a knee injury.

Ex-Terra Jefferson Louis started for the Generals on the bench.

There was a late change for the Generals as Jeanmal Prosper dropped to the bench, while Ryan Blake started.

Chesham began the better of the two teams and had an early cross sliced away for a corner by Sam Sherring, which came to nothing.

Weymouth had their first real opportunity but a ball from Brandon Goodship to Abdulai Baggie saw the offside flag raised.

The Terras were creating numerous half-chances but nothing truly threatening as another run down the left from Baggie saw the ball passed onto Ben Thomson on the edge of the area but the Weymouth forward was unable to find Goodship with a pass.

Yemi Odubade and Calvin Brooks then followed up with efforts hit well over the bar.

Odubade had the next chance for the Terras, volleying wide after Thomson had chested the ball into his path.

Chesham were creating pressure and Weymouth were not looking too settled at this stage.

From a corner however, Abdulai Baggie marauded down the left-hand side and crossed in a low effort towards Thomson, who could only fire straight at Ben Goode in the Chesham goal.

Chesham looked like they had found the touch required when a shot crashed against the Weymouth bar, but the offside flag was soon raised.

Similarly, Weymouth countered soon after, Josh Wakefield was brought down inside the box and the referee waved away all penalty appeals.

Chesham’s performance reflected their superb run in the league of three wins in four games and looked a difficult side to break down as half-time approached.

The Terras began the second half superbly with Goodship provoking a save after a minute and from the resulting corner Zubar nodded at Goode.

Yet Clayton would demolish any good feeling early on as he got into the box, opened himself up and fired across goal and into the net past Tom McHale.

The atmosphere then became toxic, as the early frustration from the stands reached a nadir, it was no surprise that the team reacted and looked very shaky in the immediate aftermath.

Mark Molesley made an attacking change with Zubar being replaced by Cameron Murray.

McCarthy then shot wide from quite a way out as Weymouth tried to haul their way back into the game.

Yet the Generals were guilty of missing a superb chance to double their lead when a shot rang in from an angle, McHale palmed it away before the rebound was missed from five-yards out.

Weymouth then had a penalty appeal waved away but were improving as the game went on.

A superb chance then came in when Goodship saw a low ball across the box blocked away and soon after Ngalo tried to fire in an effort which prompted a save.

Wakefield then went close, with a superb 25-yard curling effort from distance which Goode had to beat away from danger.

McQuoid made his return to the Weymouth team after 77 minutes, in place of Odubade.

Yet Brooks would have the last say with a stunning effort that sailed into the net to near-deafening roars from the home fans.

With eight minutes added on due to an earlier injury the tension rose around the stadium, especially with Taunton extending their lead at Hendon.

There were numerous penalty appeals for the home side, especially late on, but few looked noteworthy.

Yet the Terras would be denied a complete comeback as Chesham held on for a draw, and the title race rumbles on.

Weymouth travel to Poole on Monday (3pm).

Terras: McHale, Brooks, Ngalo, Sherring, Zubar (Murray 55), McCarthy, Odubade (McQuoid 77), Wakefield, Thomson, Goodship, Baggie

Subs not used: Martin, Carmichael, Wells

Chesham: Goode, Blake, Warner-Eley, Rolfe, Murphy (Brown 77), Adock, Mfinda, Sinclair, Casey, Clayton, Pearce.

Subs not used: Louis, Taylor, Prosper, Heneghan.

Attendance: 1,545