Weymouth beaten at Bromley despite attacking display

BROMLEY 3

Cheek 35 pen, L’Ghoul 47, Williamson 68

WEYMOUTH 2

Wakefield 23, Whelan 87 pen

WEYMOUTH somehow emerged beaten at Hayes Lane as Bromley took a 3-2 win from their Vanarama National League clash.

Most of the first-half attacking came from Weymouth as Josh Wakefield thudded home in the 23rd minute to establish a merited lead.

But captain Josh McQuoid gave away a cheap penalty from which Michael Cheek equalised as Bromley gained the upper hand.

A fabulous counter led to Nassim L’Ghoul sweeping home in the 47th minute before Ben Williamson’s arcing drive eluded away keeper Jack Bycroft for 3-1.

Tom Whelan’s penalty three minutes from time set up a grandstand finish as Weymouth created late chances but could not find what would have been a deserved leveller.

Searching for a second league win in succession, Weymouth boss Brian Stock made four changes to the side that began Saturday’s 3-2 FA Cup loss to Oxford City.

In came Wakefield, McQuoid, Josh Leslie-Smith and Calvin Brooks at the expense of Alefe Santos, Jake McCarthy, Myles Anderson and Ollie Harfield.

Of the omitted quartet, only Harfield and McCarthy retained a place in the matchday squad.

Striker Ben Thomson was due to come in and replace Cody Cooke, only to fall ill before the game.

Cooke therefore kept his starting berth, while Cameron Murray returned to the 16 after injury.

Looking to bounce back from the FA Cup shock, Weymouth began well and dominated possession without creating a meaningful chance.

Cooke failed to connect with a cross which was also too long for Whelan, while Brooks’ promising cross from the byline was intercepted.

Weymouth were doing all the attacking in the opening portion of the game, but a wayward Sean Shields cross underlined a failure to capitalise on their good play.

That trend was eradicated by a brilliant finish from Wakefield.

Leslie-Smith’s quality cross picked out the perfectly-timed run of Wakefield who buried a crisp finish beyond home keeper Mark Cousins from 12 yards.

Taking a justified lead, Weymouth allowed Bromley to creep back into the game as Taylor Maloney’s deflected shot was caught by visiting gloveman Jack Bycroft.

The impressive Harry Forster then lashed a chance over from 15 yards after a weak clearance but Bromley were handed the initiative by a poor challenge from Terras’ skipper McQuoid.

Running back to defend, McQuoid simply ran into the back of Williamson in the box for an easy penalty which Cheek converted with aplomb, curling into the left corner.

Weymouth replied with an Andy Robinson free-kick that flew inches wide while Leslie-Smith and Brennan Camp both saw half-chances go begging before the break.

Weymouth began the second half on the front foot with a corner but a weak delivery from Shields did not clear the first man – and Bromley ruthlessly punished the Terras.

Steaming upfield from a booming headed clearance, Watford loanee Forster beat Whelan for pace, skirting around the outside, driving into the box and supplying L’Ghoul six yards out for an unmissable chance.

It was a bitter blow for Weymouth after all their hard work and the Terras had Bycroft to thank for keeping the score at 2-1 as Chris Bush’s fierce free-kick needed a strong push away.

Whelan blazed wide before two Weymouth corners in quick succession almost led to another breakaway Bromley goal.

The Ravens had a four-on-one situation and somehow contrived to miss out as Luke Coulson set up Harry Kyprianou whose tame shot barely troubled the grateful Bycroft.

But Bromley had a third in the 68th minute when Williamson’s dipping shot squirmed off the wet artificial surface and beyond Bycroft.

Brooks and Cooke both had awkward chances with a volley and an overhead kick respectively as Weymouth chased a leveller in the final 10 minutes.

And Weymouth had a sniff of a point when Cooke earned a soft penalty, going down under Coulson’s nudge in the box.

Whelan duly stepped up to slot home his second spot-kick in as many league games to set up a nervy finale.

Weymouth piled forward in search of a precious point and saw McQuoid nod over after a teasing ball from Brooks.

Terras’ sub Harfield then drilled a deflected shot inches wide off the superb defending of Kory Roberts as Bromley survived to take only their third league win of 2020, leaving Weymouth in 19th after six games.

Bromley: Cousins, Coulson, Bush, Roberts, Kyprianou, Trotter, Maloney, Forster (Alabi 83), Williamson, L’Ghoul, Cheek (Holland 90+4). Subs not used: Raymond, Purrington.

Terras: Bycroft, Camp, Jordan, Wakefield (Murray 74), Cooke, McQuoid (Hoey 90+2), Leslie-Smith (Harfield 76), Robinson, Brooks, Whelan, Shields. Subs not used: Benfield, McCarthy.