Big win for Terras puts fate in their own hands
Summary:
Weymouth bounced back from last week’s defeat with a comprehensive victory to lift themselves back out of the relegation zone with one game left to play. Brandon Goodship was the star of the show, opening the scoring in the first half before completing his hat-trick after the break. Pollock scored his first of the season while Brooks added a fifth goal in injury time to round things off.
Match Report:
After last week’s defeat, Weymouth manager Jamie Wells made a few changes to his team. Firstly in defence, Pollock returned at centre back after an injury to Douglas ruled him out for the rest of the season. Elsewhere, Genesini replaced Burrows on the left, while Neale came into the centre of midfield with Bearwish playing a more advanced role and Reid dropping to the bench.
After a cautious opening, the first real chance of the game came after 12 minutes when Neale’s deep cross was met by Bearwish at the back post, but he couldn’t direct his shot on target. Two minutes later Bearwish drove into the penalty area but dragged his shot wide, as the Terras started to gain the upper hand.
The deadlock was finally broken after half an hour by Goodship with a clinical finish from a tight angle after some neat interplay between Genesini and Neale. Six minutes later the lead was nearly doubled when Robinson intercepted a loose pass in the Chertsey defence and fed Goodship whose first-time shot flew just wide of the post.
Five minutes into the second half another loose pass at the back for Chertsey was pounced on by Goodship, and this time he made no mistake sliding his shot calmly past the outcoming keeper to put Weymouth in control. It would only be another five minutes before Weymouth went three up. Swann drove in to the penalty are on the right and his deflected cross found its way to Pollock to score his first goal of the season, after his shot appeared to roll straight through the keeper.
Just past the hour mark Goodship completed his hat-trick. He picked up the ball on the halfway line and drove down the left wing, played the ball forward to Bearwish who backheeled it back into his path as he ran into the penalty area and tucked another neat finish inside the far post to score his fifteenth goal of the season.
As the game progressed, Burrows, Betts and Reid all had chances to extend the lead for the Terras, but instead it was Chertsey who found a consolation goal in injury time after a neat turn and finish by Robertson. However, there were still a few minutes left for Weymouth to wrap up a comprehensive victory with their fifth goal as Brooks rose to head home Genesini’s free kick.
Reaction:
The victory lifts Weymouth back out of the relegation zone after Evesham’s defeat against Gosport with just one game left. That means a victory at Berkhamsted on the final day of the season will ensure the Terras avoid the drop, but anything less would give Evesham the opportunity to reverse places.
Speaking to Air Dorset after the game, Jamie Wells declared himself “really happy … today we put all of our chances to bed and come out with a great result at the end of it … the team was superb, every one of them today”. Looking ahead to the final game of the season, he added “as long as its in our hands we give ourselves every chance of staying up”.
Lineups:
Terras: Evans; Betts, Brooks, Pollock (Hanger, 83), Hutchinson; Swann (Moss, 85), Robinson, Neale, Genesini; Bearwish (Burrows, 68), Goodship (Reid, 70)
Subs not used: Matthews
Goals: Goodship (30, 51, 64), Pollock (56), Brooks (95)
Curfews: Roberts; Olorunfemi, Fisher, Harrison (Wiltshire, 61), Casey, Lodge, Minhas, Lee (Ridgley, 56), McCoy, Abisogun, Robertson
Subs not used: Berry, Little, Smith
Goals: Robertson (92)
Attendance: 1,190
Media:
Watch Jamie Wells’ post-match interview here:
Check out the match highlights here: HIGHLIGHTS | Weymouth 5-1 Chertsey Town
Match Report by Ian Middlebrook
