Weymouth were beaten 4-1 on Saturday afternoon to Altrincham FC.
The Terras had the first chance of the match following an early corner won by debutant Tom Blair. Sean Shields delivered the set piece to the back post, headed on by Taofiq Olomowewe but the chance went straight into the gloves of Tony Thompson.
Altrincham were feeling their way into the game and were gaining ground in Weymouth’s final third, however were forced to make their shots from range. Their first shot on target came in the 12th minute when Dan Mooney picked up possession on the far side of the pitch. The number 7 let out a low fizzing shot with his left boot that was collected graciously by Ross Fitzsimons from a diving save.
The game was end to end, with the Terras coming close to opening the scoring in the 19th minute. Brandon Goodship picked up possession and drove into the right side of the area before firing a shot towards the near post. Thompson got down well to make the save.
The game turned on its 22nd minute. Tom Bearwish slipped in possession giving Matty Kosylo the chance to run through on goal. The right back gained ground on Kosylo but made contact with the forward, knocking him to the ground. Referee Daniel Lamport did not hesitate in brandishing the red card. Kosylo took the free kick on the edge of the area, with the ball going inches wide of Fitzsimons right post.
The visitors were piling on the pressure and eventually took the lead in the 34th minute. Ryan Colclough was finding himself in acres of space down Weymouth’s right side. The winger cut the ball onto his right foot, curling the shot through a crowded penalty area, with the ball over everyone’s heads into the far corner.
Weymouth came close to an equaliser before half time when Goodship drilled in a low cross from the left into the area. Taylor-Crossdale came close to making contact but it was Altrincham man Toby Mullarkey who nearly turned the ball in, with the defenders toe poke veering inches wide of the left post.
Altrincham were straight out of the blocks in the second half and got the first chance just 3 minutes in. A long ball reached Matty Kosylo, who controlled the ball before firing a shot on goal, however Fitzsimons was alert again.
The visitors nearly doubled their lead in the 51st minute when Marcus Dinanga was first onto a loose ball at the back. The striker went through on goal and had beaten Fitzsimons but could not score with the ball crashing against the post and straight back to an Altrincham player who laid it off to Colclough who had the chance to bag his brace, but skied the ball over the bar.
Altrincham made it 2 in the 58th minute. Substitute Tom Peers took on a shot from close range in the area which was parried away by the right foot of Fitzsimons, but only as far as Kosylo who dispatched a shot away first time, despite Fitzsimons attempt to save.
Just 2 minutes later it was 3-0. This time Colclough did score his brace, cutting in from the right side and curling a shot beyond the outstretched gloves of Fitzsimons from over 20 yards out.
Three down, the Terras knew they had to react and did so on their next attack in the 62nd minute. Shield’s short corner on the far side was played into the area, with Olomowewe rising highest to cushion a header beyond Thompson.
The game never settled with the side from Manchester having the next chance on goal as Kosylo took on a shot from over 25 yards out. The thundering strike ruptured the underside of the cross bar, with the ball coming back out to Peers. The lively substitute took on the shot but Olomowewe made the clearance.
Weymouth were being put under heavy pressure but managed to scrape together a counter attack in the 75th minute. Sean Shields ran the length of the pitch with the ball before laying it off to Blair who could only hit the side netting with his shot from the edges of the area.
The visitors killed the game off in the 89th minute. Adam Porter fired in a shot from range which had ricocheted off the crossbar but not cleared away. Right back Joel Senior picked up possession in the area soon after and crossed the ball in low from the byline for Kosylo to tap in.