WEYMOUTH manager Mark Molesley said that the Terras’ 4-0 win against Gosport Borough was a great way to kick off 2018.
A brace from Brandon Goodship, alongside goals from Ben Thomson and Abdulai Baggie helped the Terras to the win at Privett Park.
Molesley said: “It is a great win, great way to kick off 2018. It was a potential banana skin game for us, tough conditions against a dogged hard working Gosport side.”
It is the second successive year that the Terras have started the year with a 4-0 thrashing, having also beaten Cirencester Town by the same scoreline to start 2017.
Molesley praised his team’s efforts in light of disappointing 2-2 draw with Dorchester in their last game, saying: “The lads were professional, they went about their work with the right attitude and we saw a quick reaction from the disappointment of Boxing Day.
“We are delighted with the day’s work”
Gosport put up a strong fight in the first half and defended well as Weymouth found it hard to make an opening.
Molesley praised Gosport’s defensive efforts in the first half saying: “They defended very, very well: they blocked shots, they cleared things, the keeper was making saves.”
Goodship bagged a first-half stoppage time goal as Weymouth went in ahead at half-time.
Molesley explained: “We were pleased with the way we were playing, we had to be patient and just try to knock on that door.”
The second half saw Goodship get another goal for his sixth in his last three games while Thomson and Baggie added to the scoreline.
Molesley said: “In the second half it was just about coming out and managing the game right and just keep trying to create more opportunities.
“I felt we carried on that good work and got the goals to make it more of a comfortable second half.”
In the Gosport side there were some familiar faces as former Weymouth loanee Pat Suraci started, as well as former Dorchester captain Nathan Walker.
There had been concerns about whether the match would go ahead and Molesley paid tribute to the Weymouth fans who helped clear the water off the pitch.
Molesley said: “I would like to thank the crowd, our fans for travelling out in their numbers and also helping to clear the surface water off the pitch.
“Without them the game might not have even been on.”
