By Alfie Lumb
The Terras were stunned by Simeon Jackson’s last minute goal in a 2-1 thriller at the Bob Lucas Stadium.
Nathan Carlyle went into the referees book in the 3rd minute after pulling back on Eduino Vaz. The resulting free kick was swung in dangerously but cleared at the first man by Luke Jenkins.
In the 7th minute, the Terras were forming a fast counterattack, which saw O’Connell break away on the left side. The winger travelled down the line before squaring a low driven cross into the feet of Ahkeem Rose. The striker took on the shot first time with his left foot from close range. Edward Beach did well to come off his line and make a save with his face, which was then cleared behind for a corner.
Weymouth were looking the better side, with Keelan O’Connell outperforming on the near side. The winger went past his defender to win a corner in the 23rd minute. The set piece was whipped in before the headed ball came back to O’Connell, whose next effort with his curling right foot shot was beaten away by the Chelsea loanee for another corner.
In the 27th minute, O’Connell had the half chance to score again, this time the wide player was chasing down a ball meant for Beach, and came close to beating the goalkeeper, but Beach cleared the ball away with his second touch.
Just a moment later Chelmsford scored on the counter attack. A headed ball from Callum Jones was cushioned into the path of Reece Grant who had no problem finding the net in a one-on-one situation against Zaki Oualah.
The Terras tried to counter immediately through Ahkeem Rose. The striker was played in on goal in an almost identical situation, this time from Tom Bearwish. Rose connected with the rolled ball across the box with his first touch from his left foot, but this time the fingertips of Beach come to the rescue.
Vaz took on a strike in the 37th minute after a nice spell of possession from Chelmsford. City’s number 17 took on the shot from over 20 yards out but it was straight into the gloves of Zaki Oualah.
Weymouth were pushing through O’Connell on the left, with all the serious decisions coming from the playmaker. The ball kept finding its way to his feet and in the 39th minute he made it count. Dan Matsuzaka charged through the Chelmsford midfield before laying it off to O’Connell, who dinked in a ball from the left with his first touch. The ball was headed on by Brad Ash and bounced over the outstretching arms of Beach for a goal.
Ahkeem Rose looked sharp at the start of the second half, cutting in from the right before taking on a shot from over 20 yards out. The striker mishit his effort with the ball rolling inches wide of Beachs’s right post.
Rose tried again a few minutes later, from the same position, but this time the ball went straight into the gloves of Beach.
Despite the heavy pressure from Weymouth, Chelmsford etched out a winner in the 89th minute. Chris Francis slipped on the ball allowing Khale De Costa time on the ball. Oualah came out to meet the attacker but De Costa slid the ball into the path of substitute Simeon Jackson. The evergreen centre forward tapped the ball into an open goal.
Scott Rees was given his marching orders late into added time by referee Samuel Read for a heavy foul and dissent.
Read blew the full time whistle soon after.
