WEYMOUTH manager Mark Molesley praised the bravery of midfielder Jake McCarthy after his late penalty was saved in the 1-0 defeat to Havant & Waterlooville on New Year’s Day.
Brett Williams’ strike was handled by Josh Taylor inside the area in the 87th minute with the Terras trailing to a 44th-minute Simon Walton header.
In front of a crowd of 1,305, it was Hawks’ goalkeeper Ross Worner who guessed correctly, producing a superb save to deny McCarthy’s well-struck penalty and help his side to victory.
“You’ve got to be brave to step up and take one,” Molesley said of McCarthy’s spot-kick.
“It’s always a difficult one, it was a pressure penalty, he’s struck it well, put it in the corner and their keeper’s guessed right and made a fantastic save.
“He’s the hero of the day. An inch the other way, (McCarthy’s) the hero but that’s football.”
Molesley backed the midfield maestro – and his players – to bounce back quickly, such is the nature of his squad.
“That’s our group, that’s our characteristic,” Molesley told Echosport.
“I was pleased with the attitude and application of the boys and we’ll be looking to repeat that.
“If we end up playing like that most weeks I think we’ve got a chance of hanging in and around the play-offs. If we don’t reach those levels, we won’t.
“There’s plenty of football to be played now to the end of the season.
“A little bit of the rub of the green with the injuries hasn’t quite fallen for us lately, but if you keep believing in your work and processes you’ll get your rewards.”
