WEYMOUTH boss Mark Molesley admitted he was “immensely proud” of his squad after the Terras stunned Maidstone United with a 2-1 victory at the Gallagher Stadium.
Playing their first Vanarama National League South game for nine years, Molesley’s men showed little sign of nerves and were unlucky not to lead at half-time.
Justin Amaluzor’s fine finish in the 54th minute did little to deter Weymouth, who were rewarded for a quality display when Ben Thomson netted a late double to hand the Dorset side all three points against their full-time opposition.
Speaking to Echosport, Molesley was delighted with how Weymouth took the fight to the Stones, who last season finished rock bottom of the National League.
He said: “On paper it’s a great result away from home against a good side in Maidstone. All it is is one win – we can’t get carried away.
“We need to make sure it’s no flash in the pan and we need to try and follow it up.
“I was immensely proud and we really did take the fight to them and put our game on to them. Travelling away, we could’ve been forgiven for trying to be a bit submissive.
“But we weren’t, we went out, were true to ourselves throughout the whole game and got our just rewards at the end.
“Maidstone will be a strong force in this league, I’m sure. They’ve got a very experienced managing duo and they’ve rung the changes since last season.
“They’re a newly put together side but a side which I’m sure will be competing near the higher reaches of the league.”
Abdulai Baggie and Thomson spurned chances to open the scoring in the first half and Molesley admitted he feared punishment from the Stones.
“It’s always the worry as a manager,” he confessed. “We had a good start, first half I thought we created numerous chances and unfortunately didn’t put them away.
“You always worry for that sucker punch and, when you’re coming away and have a good spell in the game, when you have chances you’ve got to make (the opponents) pay because they’re not going to sit on the fence for too long.
“Second half we didn’t get the dominance we had in the first half, we had to rally that and unfortunately conceded the goal.
“We had to show a lot of character and grit – that’s true Weymouth fashion. Since I’ve been at the club the boys have always shown the never say die attitude and that was certainly evident.”
Molesley also reserved plaudits for goalscorer Thomson, adding: “It’s no secret, Thommo’s a big cog in our machine.
“He does so much unseen work sometimes, a lot of good work for the team, and sometimes doesn’t get the plaudits he maybe deserves, but he certainly does within our group.
“He got his just rewards and we need people to step up – that was the problem first half We didn’t commit to getting on the end of those chances, whereas Thommo made those chances himself.
“It was a great finish for the first one where he’s showed his strength and power with a swivel and finish, then the second he’s attacking the ball. We need to see that more often from all of our players.”
