Weymouth Vs Aveley
National League South, Bob Lucas Stadium, Saturday 22 February, 3PM
Back at home, Terras fans!
Following our loss away to Farnborough last weekend, we have had a week to reflect ahead of today’s bottom-table clash at home to fellow-strugglers Aveley.
Warren Feeney, reluctant to “beat around the bus,” told us yesterday that this game would see “the two worst sides in the league based on the number of points.”
With the situation of both teams, nine and 13 points off safety, Warren’s words may be hard to argue.
HOW TO FOLLOW
We are delighted to announce that the ever-brilliant Ben Ashelford will be on commentary this afternoon; click HERE to access his in-game thoughts.
Live updates will also be provided across our social media platforms, followed by post-match reaction being uploaded after the final whistle.
LAST TIME ROUND
Wins have been hard to come by this season, although the last time this fixture was played, we were able to let out a rare cheer in Essex.
The Millers, having a season as tough as a Terras team that had won only one league victory all season, alongside being winless in England’s sixth tier for nearly two months.
Our last three results had all been 1-1 draws, all achieved after coming from behind to equalise.
Before facing us, the Essex side’s most recent league outing was a heavy 4-1 defeat away to promotion-hopefuls Weston-super-mare, who at the time of the result were table-toppers.
The Millers had held their own in the first half, the scoreline being 1-1 at the break, but a second-half onslaught started by birthday boy Sam Pearson capped off a miserable day for Scopes’ side.
At the time, we were at the foot of the table, eight points off safety, against a team equally fighting for survival.
Put simply, there was an important game on the horizon.
With a vital victory at stake, both teams started brightly.
The Millers came close first, Ibby Akbani’s strike hitting the side netting within the opening five minutes.
But from then on Keelan O’Connell ran the show, putting chances on a plate for his teammates a total of three times throughout the first half, the closest towards a goal being when Euan Pollock headed just wide halfway through.
Then, with momentum running high just before the break, Calvin Brooks found himself with the ball at a tight angle.
The full-back blasted into the top corner, past a helpless Carey Bloehorn to give us the lead.
For the second time this season, our valiant veteran had put us in front away from home.
The hosts would fight back in the second half, through Tyrese Owen who was bravely stopped by Will Buse from close-range.
But we would ultimately hold on, the likes of Ezio Touray smartly winning fouls by the corner flag to give us our second league win of the season on an evening when literal fireworks erupted after the final whistle.
SINCE THEN…
Put simply, times have been tough for both teams.
Fans of this club will not need to hear more statistics about this season, our subsequent one win, nine points in 19 league matches telling the story that no one wants to read.
The situation of today’s opponents is an improvement, but only slightly.
The Millers have won more than us, five, in their following 18 league contests, as well as picking up nine more points.
In the same period, though, they have also lost 10 times, only two less than the one side below them in this division.
As a result, there is only a four-point gap between the sides as they occupy the final two spots of the National League South table.
Staying in this league looks a difficult task for both sides, too, as Aveley’s nine points from safety only marginally betters our 13.
As Warren said to us yesterday, “there’s pride at stake.”
