Weymouth grabbed their first three points of the season with a 1-0 win against Dartford FC at the Bob Lucas Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Bobby Wilkinson named two changes to his sides opening day defeat against St. Albans, with Calvin Brooks and Josh McQuoid replacing Max Hemmings and Teddy Howe.
The Terras looked to make an instant impact within the first minute. Leo Hamblin’s low cross from the left was misfired by Brandon Goodship before falling to the feet of Keelan O’Connell at the back post. The Weymouth midfielder took on a shot but it was pushed away by the goalkeeper.
Dartford had their first attempt on goal in the 8th minute. A long ball forward was met by Tyrell Rodney-Miller who turned his way into the area before carving out a chance with his right foot. Anthony Cheshire came across to make a crucial block but the ball came back out to Brandon Brazey, whose first time effort blazed over the cross bar.
Weymouth were putting pressure on the visitors in the early stages but their goal came out of the blue in the 11th minute. Joel Rollinson’s deep cross was brought down over the line by keeper McIntyre, a crucial error that gave the Terras a goal advantage.
Luke Allen had the chance to draw the visitors level two minutes later when he was played through into a one-on-one position. Terras keeper Gerard Benfield stood his ground well, with the shot straight at the keeper.
The Terras next opening came in the 26th minute after some fine defensive work from Josh McQuoid. The midfielder won back possession for Weymouth before finding Rollinson. His shot from range needed to be punched over the bar by the keeper.
Dartford came close to an equaliser in the 33rd minute. Luke Coulson switched the play from right to left, finding Rodney-Miller who teed up Luke Allen. Dartford’s number seven took a curling strike but Benfield did well to see the ball through a crowded penalty area, parrying it to his left before it was cleared up field.
Frustrations were mounting in the 38th minute for the visitors, visibly shown when Rodney-Miller received a yellow card following a late tackle on Dan Roberts.
Rodney-Miller was amongst the action again, with another shot on goal in the 40th minute. This time the ball was cut back to the midfielder in the area but his tame shot was easy work for Benfield.
Three minutes later Benfield was called into action again, tipping a long ranged rocket of a strike over the bar from Luke Coulson.
Weymouth were working well, with defenders constantly providing an overlapping option and early in the second half this led to another chance. Leo Hamblin received the ball deep over on the far side of the pitch. The wing back fizzed in a low ball across the box which almost got turned in by Joash Nembhard after the ball got caught between the defenders legs. Nembhard recovered in time to make a clearance.
The Terras tried knocking on the door again in the 58th minute. This time Bearwish swung at a shot towards goal on the volley, but the ball deflected behind for a corner.
Rodney-Miller was forced off the pitch in the 64th minute after colliding with Bearwish into the advertising hoarding.
Hamblin delivered another dangerous low cross in the 70th minute. The ball pinged its way in towards the near post where McIntyre came close to giving Roberts a tap in, but the keeper made a good recovery to claim for the ball.
With 10 minutes to go, the visitors were searching hard for an equaliser. The ball was put into a busy Weymouth penalty area, with Maxwell Statham rising the highest to meet the cross. However, the substitutes header went wide for a goal kick.
The Terras could have doubled their lead in the 85th minute if not for a fine double save from McIntyre. Terras captain Bearwish took on a powerful strike from range which was pushed away by the keeper, but only as far as O’Connell whose header was again punched clear by McIntyre.
Ten minutes of added time were not enough for the visitors to find a comeback, with the Terras triumphant. The result sees Weymouth in 13th place as they welcome Taunton Town on Tuesday night.
