Baker grabs treble for five-star Terras

WEYMOUTH striker Harry Baker scored a second-half hat-trick as the Terras won 5-0 at ten-man Odd Down in the FA Cup first qualifying round.

Ben Thomson had opened the scoring on 37 minutes after Weymouth had hit the post three times.

Baker got his first four minutes after half-time before Dave Gould received a second yellow for a late challenge.

And Weymouth grabbed three goals in the final ten minutes as Baker scored either side of a Jake McCarthy goal.

It was a comfortable win for Mark Molesley’s men, who made five changes to the starting XI that began the 3-0 win over Dorchester on Bank Holiday Monday.

Nick Thomas, Mark Cooper, Sean Stewart, Harry Baker and Antonio Diaz all came in for Mark Travers, Ashley Wells, Josh Wakefield, Brandon Goodship and Jordan Rose.

There was also a place for Charlie Davis on the bench after a recent illness.

After just two minutes, Stewart had hit the post when his shot was turned away by the Odd Down goalkeeper.

Both sides then settled into the game and it was only until midway through the opening period that Weymouth created their next chance.

Antonio Diaz, who was lively all afternoon, hit a free-kick wide of the post before seeing a shot smartly saved by Bawley.

Five minutes later Baker smashed a shot against the post after a neat touch by Thomson, before Mark Cooper, making his first appearance following a move back from Chippenham Town, struck a low volley at Bawley.

Bawley’s goal was being peppered and the Terras struck the woodwork for a third time when McCarthy smacked a shot against Baker, deflecting onto the post.

But Thomson broke the deadlock after making room for himself in the area and unleashed a low drive into the net as the Terras took a 1-0 lead into half-time.

Baker opened his account on 49 minutes with a high-quality finish into the top corner, and Weymouth’s task was made simpler when Gould saw red for a second bookable offence in the 73rd minute.

Boss Mark Molesley then introduced Davis into the fold and it was from his powerful cross that Baker stabbed home his second on 83 minutes.

McCarthy then emulated Baker in finding the top corner to make it 4-0, before Baker completed the rout in stoppage time to seal his hat-trick.

The win, Weymouth’s second in a week, earns the club prize money of £3,000 as they look ahead to the second qualifying round draw.

Terras: Thomas, Cooper, Buckley, Carmichael, Down, Brooks, McCarthy, Stewart (Davis 75), Baker, Thomson (Sa 69), Diaz. Subs not used: J.Prodomo, Goodship, Wakefield, Rodriguez, Wells