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Weymouth hit back to seal home draw with Hayes & Yeading United
WEYMOUTH once again battled back to earn a share of the spoils at the Bob Lucas Stadium, this time against strugglers Hayes & Yeading United.
Jason Matthews’ side, who had to respond from 3-0 down against Dunstable Town in their previous home encounter, had to rally from a couple down on this occasion against a United side inspired by new loan recruit Graeme Montgomery.
Terras’ manager Matthews opted to make two changes from the side that drew 1-1 at Banbury in the league last time out.
After impressing off the bench against the Puritans, Tiago Sa, who normally operates as a full-back, came into the Weymouth midfield in place of Jordan Copp, who had been struggling with a back problem.
There was also a switch in defence as Jake Wannell returned after a calf problem, he replaced Ashley Wells with Calvin Brooks reverting to right-back.
Having made the trip three times to the Bob Lucas Stadium only to see their first two visits called off due to fog, Hayes signalled their intentions from the outset.
An early chance came for the away side as they worked the ball neatly into the Terras’ box and cut it back for striker Dylan Kearney, but he elected not to pull the trigger and the ball was scrambled to safety.
Former Cherries’ and Yeovil Town man Anthony Edgar then whipped in a free-kick which McHale punched into danger and the Terras eventually stabbed the ball away.
The Terras’ keeper was made to endure a busy start. He had to unconvincingly palm away a looping header from Tom Broadbent from another free-kick around the box.
The first real chance for the Terras came on on 26 minutes.
After Brooks had strongly won the ball on the right flank, Ben Thomson set Stuart Fleetwood free inside the box, but the former Cardiff City frontman drilled a shot on the angle into the side netting, rather than looking for the run of Sa.
Brooks then put in a perfectly timed challenge to stop Kearney running in on goal, but on 36 minutes, Hayes found the opener.
Montgomery, who only signed for United on loan a day previously, let fly and found the bottom corner after being allowed space to shoot from 20 yards out.
At the other end, Weymouth’s Charlie Davis hit a free-kick just over the bar on the stroke of half-time, as the Terras went in behind.
And it got worse for the home side five minutes after the break. Montgomery this time turned provider as he crossed from the left for Kearney, who headed home at the near post.
Two goals behind, an injury issue then upset the Terras’ plans further.
Youngster Sa felt the force of a crunching challenge on the edge of the box – he had to be stretchered off with a knee injury and was replaced by player-coach Mark Molesley.
Davis then took aim and forced a sublime stop from Danny Boness in the away goal from the resulting free-kick, as frustration started to build for the hosts.
Hayes had only won two away games all season in the league ahead of the clash, and the Terras gave them something to think about when they pulled a goal back on the hour mark.
Full-back Mark Cooper advanced forward and gathered a sweeping cross-field ball. His first touch took him away from his defender and he applied a cool finish for 2-1.
And on 72 minutes, the game was level.
Frontman Fleetwood showed his striker’s prowess to rifle into the roof of the net after the ball dropped kindly for him in the area.
Both sides then tussled to find a winner, the visitors coming closest with Broadbent drilling a free-kick at McHale but it was well saved as the points were shared.
