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Evans sees red in Dunstable stalemate
WEYMOUTH were left to battle out the latter stages of their stalemate with Dunstable Town with just 10 men after Dean Evans was dismissed at the Bob Lucas Stadium.
The Weymouth midfielder was given an early bath by referee Chris Wade five minutes from time for two bookings.
Coach Micky Greeno was also sent to the stands following the incident.
While the Terras’ starting XI was unchanged from their midweek victory over Paulton Rovers, there was a shakeup on the bench.
Player-coach Chris McPhee, who was unavailable last Tuesday, returned to take a spot among the substitutes and the hosts were also given a little bit more firepower to add to their ranks.
Former Plymouth youngster Josh Grant had been kicking his heels on the sidelines waiting for international clearance so that he could feature. His patience was rewarded as he was listed in the 16-man squad.
After getting off the mark in midweek with his goal tally for the season, Weymouth skipper Stewart Yetton chased on to a ball clipped over the top early on but veteran stopper Paul Bastock was smartly off his line to clear for the Duns.
Caught out by an early corner last time out, this time the Terras had learnt their lesson as they managed to stab away Matt Nolan’s flick at the near post from a corner.
The hosts then found their feet and it was midfielder Adam Kelly who started to cause problems.
He burst down the left to force the first save of the game from Bastock after 11 minutes.
Some invention from a Terras’ free-kick then almost caught Dunstable napping moments later as Evans slid in Jordan Copp, who had tip-toed around the wall to pick the ball up and see his effort blocked.
Lone striker Nolan then showed his threat once more as he spun on the turn and rifled just past the post and, on 35 minutes, the Terras were let off the hook.
Full-back Mason Spence, who was lively during the opening period for the visitors, got the better of his man and drilled to the back post.
It was left to Christopher Marsh to tap the ball home but, somehow, he fluffed his lines from inside the six-yard box and ended up in the net himself with his head in his hands.
Weymouth’s Jordan Copp was then in the thick of it as he tangled with Danny Talbot in the midfield, the latter receiving the first caution following a bit of afters between the two just shy of the interval.
As the sides continued to battle in a relatively chanceless opening to the second half, Weymouth midfielder Mark Molesley, who was listed among the substitutes, was seen icing his knee in the main stand.
Defender Calvin Brooks was then caught out as he gave the ball straight to Dunstable frontman Gary Warton, who flashed just wide after finding space on the edge of the box.
Grant then got his chance as he replaced Copp, and Warton then went close with the visitors best opening on 67 minutes.
Surging into the area, the replacement forced a sharp reaction save from player-boss Jason Matthews, who was down smartly to his right to palm the ball away.
Grant then put the ball in the net for the first time in Weymouth colours after latching on to a delivery from Kelly, but the attack was flagged offside in the build-up.
A sublime through-ball from George Rigg was brought down well by Kelly, who had raced through to beat the offside trap. He was left one-on-one with Bastock, but the gloveman smothered the strike as Kelly looked to pick out the bottom corner.
Kelly was then at is again as he skipped away from three defenders inside the area and his deflected attempt flew inches wide.
McPhee was introduced in one last throw of the dice for the Terras to gain three points but, soon after, they were reduced to 10 men.
Evans was adjudged by referee Chris Wade to have deliberately handled and, after picking up a booking earlier in the half for a foul, he was given his marching orders. Greeno was also told to leave the bench by the match official minutes later.
Bastock then went down as he came out to clear a ball from deep and needed treatment, much to the frustration of the Terras’ support behind his goal as the contest ended goalless.
