Weymouth were held by 10 man Hemel Hempstead in a scoreless draw on Saturday at the Bob Lucas Stadium.
Weymouth had the first chance of the game from a corner in the 6th minute. Tom Blair’s set piece went towards the back post where Dan Matsuzaka made contact with a diving header. The Tudors managed to put a touch on the chance, which saw the ball cleared for another corner, which was scythed by the first defender.
The Terras were being pressed quickly, but still managed to form a dangerous counter attack in the 11th minute. A cleared corner came out to Tom Bearwish who played the ball forward to Keelan O’Connell. Weymouth’s number 7 found a through pass to Noa Boutin who was making an overlapping run to his left. The left back steamed into the far side of the area before firing a shot over the face of goal, however keeper Craig King was there to put in a clean save.
The Tudors went down to 10 men in just the 17th minute following a collision between Xander McBurnie and Hemel right wing back Harris O’Connor. Referee Daniel Lamport had shown a straight red card to the defender for a high boot.
The Terras had their next opportunity from the following free kick. The play was switched to the near side where Blair brought down the ball. The Weymouth forward turned past 2 Hemel defenders with skill before attempting a curled shot towards King’s near post. Blair’s shot was scuffed with the ball going straight into the gloves of King.
Weymouth were pressing with the man advantage, which saw Hemel move from a 5 at the back to a 4. Blair was looking sharp in possession, and cut in again from the right side. The winger travelled across the box before laying the ball off to McBurnie who played it to Luke Nippard in the middle of the area. Nippard tried a shot first time, but the ball rose over the crossbar.
The Terras had a great chance in the 41st minute. Noa Boutin delivered a low cross from the left, which was drilled into the penalty area. The ball was travelling too fast for O’Connell to make contact, however Nippard did, striking the ball with his left foot across goal. The ball was sailing goal bound before a defender put in a
With Four minutes of added time, Cameron Murray squared the ball across the pitch again to Blair who kept the ball in play acrobatically, flicking it over his head. The ball needed to be tipped over the bar by King.
Weymouth had one more chance before half time when O’Connell squared the ball to Bearwish in the area. Bearwish made contact with the shot, however Town players were there to clear their lines again but only as far as McBurnie. The midfielder had a crack, however, yet again the shot was blocked.
Weymouth started the second half as they ended the first. Tom Bearwish let rip on a chance in the area which was blocked. The ball came back out and ricocheted off of the forward, looping over the bar.
Dara Dada had one the Tudor’s only attempts in the second half. The midfielder made space for himself to shoot but the chance was way over the crossbar.
Blair was played through on goal following a ball over the defenders. The striker touched it across the box to Dan Gifford, but his first time chance went inches wide of the post.
The visitors managed to keep the game quiet in the second half, played at a slower pace, with long ranged efforts and substitutes to slow down the game.
With 10 minutes left, Boutin had played the ball to O’Connell who was free in spacet. The midfielder came in from the left and found Nippard in space, who had wound up the shot but the chance blazed over the bar.
Then, Hemel Hempstead countered on the far side, with Ogo Obi cutting in from the left and picking out a shot at the near post with eyes on the goal. Billy Terrell did well to read the danger and get down quickly to make the save.
The Tudors were looking better in possession, but still lacked quality in the final third. Obi again had another chance, this time outside the area, which cleared the crossbar.
Weymouth were looking for the opening, even in the 87th minute. Bearwish had possession in the area and managed to force out a shot come cross from the byline. Substitute Matt Burrows was racing to meet the ball at the back post, but it went behind for a goal kick.
