MARK Molesley credited debutant goalkeeper Mark Childs for being the hero as Weymouth claimed the Evo-Stik Southern League title with a 5-3 penalty shoot-out win at Kettering.
Childs saved a Rhys Hoenes during the second half of normal time, before Childs saved a Marcus Kelly penalty to hand Brandon Goodship the chance to win it, which he duly obliged.
Molesley said: “Mark came in for his first game, he has been out injured and I must say, he has not had a full training session since his injury yet and for him to come in and put that performance in I think is a true credit to him.
“I thought it was an outstanding performance from him, and ultimately was the hero in the penalty shoot-out.”
Calvin Brooks had handed the Terras a lead in the 25th minute at Latimer Park, before Kettering were denied repeatedly by Childs, including the penalty in the second half from Hoenes.
Eventually they did break through, when substitute Brett Solkhon equalised in the 85th minute and the Terras held out until full-time, at which point the contest went straight to penalties with no extra-time.
However, it would be Childs who saved the crucial penalty during the shoot-out from Kelly to allow Goodship to rifle in the winning penalty.
Molesley bemoaned conceding the penalty in the second half, when Hoenes went down inside the box, which Molesley disputed.
Molesley said: “Hopefully when we go up a league we get a higher quality of referee as well, because they got a penalty that was about three yards outside the box, but having said that, they had good chances.
“But he (Childs) saved a penalty during open play and then saved the penalty to give Brandon Goodship the chance to win it and there is no better person you would want in front of goal than Brandon Goodship.”
