WEYMOUTH manager Mark Molesley says he is happy to have seen some struggles for his Terras’ side over the course of pre-season, following their 2-1 victory over Gosport Borough.
Brett Williams and Yemi Odubade scored to hand Weymouth victory over Gosport and stay unbeaten for the entirety of their pre-season campaign.
Molesley said “We have had some really good bits, we have had some rusty bits, which is all part of pre-season and that is what you want.
“You want some struggles, if we weren’t struggling in pre-season then we haven’t pushed them hard enough and drove them hard enough. You want them to struggle physically, mentally and also tactically as well during games.
“I feel that we have been stretched and we have pushed ourselves and now it is about dotting the i’s and crossing the t’s for the next couple of training session and be the best prepared we can for a massive challenge on Saturday.”
Gosport have been boosted by numerous players from Havant & Waterlooville of late, and they proved a strong test for the Terras, with Theo Lewis nodding in to narrow the scoreline for the Boro.
With the games against Poole and Gosport over the past week, Molesley is happy with the minutes his players have been able to get.
Molesley said: “I think it was a good work out for us, a good 90 minutes, the rest of the squad got their 90 minutes who didn’t get it on Tuesday (in the 2-1 win over Poole Town) so everyone has ticked that box barring one player. So everyone arrives on August 3 hopefully in the best physical shape we could have got them in in this period of time so we are looking forward to the start of the season now.”
Molesley says the acid test for the last two friendlies against Poole and Gosport will come on Saturday, when his side travel to Maidstone United, for their first fixture as they begin their Vanarama National League South campaign.
Molesley said: “They are two good teams we have played the last week who will replicate close to what we want to be facing at the start of the season when we start the season on Saturday.
“We try to plot pre-season and plan it to bring us to the start of the season in the best possible shape we can.
“The acid test will be on Saturday and the coming season. What I can say is that the attitude and application from the lads has been fantastic, we are oiling the cogs and getting the rustiness out of us.
“We have got two more big training sessions before the start of the season, we will be ready.”
Over the past week, the Terras have signed Tom Rees, Callum Ward and Jack Hoey, with the latter two playing against Gosport.
When asked if those additions meant an end to their transfer business for the foreseeable, Molesley replied: “Yes at the moment.
“We are happy with what we have got, you never say never in football but we have got the players we want.”
“I am pleased with the way pre-season has gone, and we are ready to put our best foot forward.”
Meanwhile, the Terras will hold a shareholders’ meeting where an announcement will be made regarding the ongoing land deal at the Bob Lucas Stadium.
The meeting will be held before the Terras’ first home game of the new season against Bath City on Tuesday, August 6 (6pm).
