Terras frustrated by Ridgeway stalemate in relegation fight
Summary:
Weymouth were left frustrated in their relegation battle after a goalless draw with their local rivals. Clear chances were few and far between as the wind played its part in a low-quality game in front of the season’s biggest crowd at the Bob Lucas Stadium. Brooks had a header cleared off the line, while Max Evans saved twice in the second half to maintain a clean sheet and secure a point for the Terras.
Match Report:
After last week’s victory at Bracknell, manager Jamie Wells opted to stick with the same starting XI for this important game, meaning that Goodship would continue his role up front, while Reid and Douglas returned to add their experience to the bench.
The game started with the usual high intensity of a local derby, although it soon became clear that the wind would impact the quality of the game. Daws had the first shot on goal for the visitors but sliced it well wide. Burrows burst forward into the Dorchester box, but his shot/cross evaded everybody. The Terras then broke away from a Dorchester corner, but Swann’s final pass to Bearwish in front of goal was just cut out by Benfield’s outstretched foot.
Clear opportunities were few and far between, and it was not until two minutes before half-time that the large Bank Holiday crowd saw their first shot on target, a side-footed effort from Burrows which Benfield blocked with his feet.
Early in the second-half Weymouth came close to breaking the deadlock when Brooks met Burrows’ corner with a firm header, but Moore was on the line to head it away. The visitors responded with their first effort on target, as Hodson hit a stinging low drive which Evans did well to get down and save by the post, while Brooks reacted well to block the follow up from Murphy.
Bearwish found some space in the Dorchester box to meet Swann’s cross but his header was just wide of the target, then back to the other end where Daws’ free-kick took a deflection and once again forced Evans into a great save low down to his left.
As the second-half progressed Weymouth turned the pressure up, but every cross seemed to evade its target. There were half-hearted shouts for penalties in both boxes as the two rivals became more and more desperate to find a breakthrough, but ultimately the game would end goalless leaving both sides frustrated.
Reaction:
Speaking to Air Dorset after the game, Jamie Wells said “I thought we deserved to win it. We’ve created some real clear-cut chances and we just haven’t put the ball in the back of the net”. For the second home game in a row, he conceded that “the wind played a factor … but we created opportunities and again we haven’t taken them at home and that ultimately was the difference”. However, he also reflected that “it’s a point and a clean sheet, so there are positives”.
This draw leaves Weymouth three points and three places above the drop zone with three games to go, although Taunton in 19th place still have a game in hand. Next up the Terras travel to west London to face Hanwell Town, who are themselves only one point better off.
Lineups:
Terras: Evans; Betts, Brooks, Pollock, Hutchinson; Robinson, Neale; Swann (Genesini, 88), Bearwish, Burrows; Goodship (Reid, 80)
Subs not used: Douglas, Hanger, Moss
Magpies: Benfield; Hodson (Spetch, 90), Haste (Pardoe, 86), Williams, Wright, Chubinidze, Moore, Robinson (Crosbie, 79), Daws (Wooding, 93), Murray (Landa, 86), McIntosh
Subs not used: none
Attendance: 2,945
Media:
Watch Jamie Wells’ post-match interview here:
Scroll through the match photos here: 6-Apr-2026 Weymouth vs Dorchester Town | Flickr
Check out the match highlights here: HIGHLIGHTS | Weymouth 0-0 Dorchester Town
Match Report by Ian Middlebrook
