Weymouth vs Cambridge City

Recap

Weymouth show their class in dominant victory over Cambridge City

WEYMOUTH cruised to a comfortable 2-0 victory against the relegation-threatened Cambridge City at the Bob Lucas Stadium.

The Terras went into the game looking to extend their unbeaten run to seven games, a period which has seen numerous much-improved performances.

That unbeaten streak does include five draws, including Tuesday night’s 0-0 draw at Hayes & Yeading, something which manager Jason Matthews said has held them back for long spells this season.

Matthews insisted he would be looking to take the game to relegation-threatened Cambridge City, and made one change from Tuesday night with the returning Tiago Sa replacing the unavailable Mark Molesley.

It was a relatively even opening, with both sides enjoying spells of possession without any notable chances.

The first opportunity fell to Terras’ midfielder Aaron Rodriguez who turned and fired a left-footed effort over the bar from 20 yards.

Cambridge looked lively on the attack, with Darren Foxley on the left flank providing pace and trickery to cause issues for right back Mark Cooper.

Stuart Fleetwood and Ben Thomson looked lively in attack, with Fleetwood’s cross being easily picked up.

The pair combined again moments later, when Thomson teed up the Terras’ number nine, who got his shot away only to be denied by the legs of Dean Snedker in the Lilywhites goal.

Right back Cooper then went close when a corner fell to him on the right hand side, before he fired his effort just over the bar.

The Terras’ dominance paid off moments later, when a superb solo effort from Rodriguez flew into the top corner from all of 30 yards after wriggling free of three Cambridge defenders.

Weymouth looked like a side with superior quality amongst their ranks, dominating possession and playing with real flair in their attacking build-up.

Rodriguez looked to be through on goal again shortly after, only for the ball to be cleared away as he tried to bring it down.

As the first half drew to a close, the tempo dropped in the game, but this didn’t stop Sa breaking down the left and crossing a ball into the box, only to evade the on-rushing Terras’ attackers, before another Fleetwood effort was easily saved as the whistle blew the end the opening period.

The second half started in much the same fashion for Weymouth, with Cooper breaking down the right flank and creating a goalmouth scramble which was cleared up by the Cambridge defence.

The Terras got their second goal of the game moments later as Cambridge stopper Snedkin was caught in possession, leaving Calvin Brooks with the task of rolling the ball between the keeper’s legs and into an empty net.

Weymouth looked confident every time they picked up the ball, with Fleetwood, Thomson and Sa combining well to cause problems for an overwhelmed looking defensive line.

Cambridge did pose a threat as a free-kick found its way to to their attacker, who turned into the trouble in the shape of the Weymouth defence, who cleared with ease.

Two counter attacks in quick succession saw Ashley Wells and then Billy Lowes go close, but they lacked the composure to extend the home sides’ lead.

Such was the confidence in the Terras’ team, captain Stephane Zubar decided to try his luck with a fierce right-footed effort from 30 yards which cleared the crossbar and the stand, a strike which he swiftly apologised for in a good-humoured exchange.

In the final moment, Fleetwood had an effort which appeared to be cleared off the line, on an afternoon where he would count himself unlucky not to get on the scoresheet after a fine display.

But as the clock counted down, the Terras looked firmly in control, dominating possession and frustrating the Lilywhites who could only look on with a feeling of resignation, that their increasingly demoralising fight against relegation would not be helped at the Bob Lucas Stadium.

As for Jason Matthews’ side, the performance was one of class and composure, leaving the fans with a feeling of “what if?”, on a day where their attacking play would be more than at home in a battle for promotion.

Terras: McHale, Wells, Cooper, Zubar (C), Brooks, Evans (Stewart 69), Sa, Lowes (Davis 78), Fleetwood, Thomson, Rodriguez (Copp 70). Subs not used: Panesar-Dower, Matthews
Cambridge City: Snedker, Robinson, Cooper, Stevenson, Gent, Williams, Snaith (Lowe 63), Paterson (Norman 70), Capela, Foy (Woolfe 70), Foxley. Subs not used: Harradine,Theobold
Referee: Phillip Eddie (Plymouth)
Attendance: 459