WEYMOUTH 1
Robinson 67
NOTTS COUNTY 1
Roberts 60
Report: Alfie Lumb
Weymouth battled from a goal down to snatch a point against Notts County at the Bob Lucas Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Brian Stock named 2 changes ahead of his 50th game in charge of the Terras with Josh McQuoid and Taofiq Olomowewe making way for Tom Bearwish and Andy Robinson.
The Terras had their first chance to score in the third minute. A corner was played out to Sean Shields, via Omar Mussa. The Terras winger played in a cross with his right that was cleared away, but only as far as Ollie Harfield who launched a searching ball to the back post. Tyler Cordner rose highest and his looping header was punched over the bar by Sam Slocombe.
County were showing flashes of getting back into the game and had their first real chance in the 13th minute. A free-kick from 20 yards out from Cal Roberts was curled low but narrowly wide beyond Fitzsimon’s right post.
Four minutes later, Weymouth’s visitors had another chance to open the scoring. A deep cross from left-back Joel Taylor was cleared only as far as Roberts who weaved his way through Terras defenders on a tight byline before firing in a shot with his left boot towards the near post. Fitzsimons got down well to make the save and clear the danger.
Notts County were really pressuring the Terras goal, coming close from another set-piece in the 24th minute. A long free-kick, taken by Roberts was floated into a dangerous position. Kyle Wooton headed the ball under control before attempting to poke the ball beyond Fitzsimons, but the goalkeeper parried the ball away from close range. The ball came back out to the striker but he could only touch a shot wide.
Spurred on by the crowd, the Terras were attacking more, looking at building towards a goal. A deep ball was kept alive by Josh Leslie-Smith who hooked in a cross with his right boot on the byline. Bradley Ash headed the ball down, but straight into the gloves of Slocombe.
A minute later, the pair had linked up again. This time, a dinked ball forward from Leslie-Smith found Ash. The striker was brought down by a County defender but collected himself before putting in a low cross on the byline. Cameron Murray was rushing in but his path was blocked by a defender and the chance was lost.
Weymouth had started the second hand the way they finished the first, pressing for another chance at goal. A set-piece delivered by Sean Shields from the left flew just wide of Slocombe’s near post from Ash’s bullet of a header.
Notts County were given a free kick in the 60th minute when Ben Morgan had brought down Ruben Rodrigues outside the box. Roberts stepped up to take the set-piece and curled it into the top left corner of the goal, with Fitzsimons rooted to his spot.
The visitors could not keep hold of the lead for long, it taking only 9 minutes for the Terras to find an equaliser. Mussa was dictating the play in the midfield and picked out Andy Robinson just outside the box. The midfielder was urged to shoot by the fans and obliged, with the ball going beyond the gloves of Slocombe, despite an attempted save.
The Terras had their tails up and were searching for another soon after. This time Tyler Cordner played the ball wide to Murray following a corner, who then played Shields through. The winger squared a low cross into the area asking to be turned in but a County defender put in a clearance.
With 5 minutes to go, County were given the chance to take the lead when Matt Palmer stood over a free kick on the near side of the pitch. The midfielder swung the ball into the penalty area with Wooton in waiting. The striker could only guide the ball over the crossbar and out for a goal kick.
Two minutes later, the visitors were in again. This time it was Aaron Nemane threading a ball through to fellow Notts substitute Kairo Mitchell. County’s number 7 took the ball onto his right foot before firing a shot across goal which was snatched by the diving Fitzsimons.
In the final seconds of the game, Weymouth fell like they should have been awarded a penalty when Ash was outmuscled in the area. County ran up the other end and were awarded a corner, only for Rodrigues’ ball to be safely collected by Fitzsimons.
Terras: Fitzsimons, Morgan, Cordner, Mussa (Goodship 83), Ash, Bearwish (Brooks 90+3), Leslie-Smith, Robinson, Murray, Harfield, Shields. Subs not used: Rose, Bruton, Olomowewe.
Notts County: Slocombe, Brindley, Taylor, Cameron, O’Brien (Mitchell 72), Wootton, Roberts (Francis 81), Kelly-Evans (Nemane 72), Palmer, Rodrigues, Lacey. Subs not used: Sam, Chicksen.
Referee: Scott Simpson
Attendance: 1,783
