Weymouth vs Chippenham Town

Recap

Jason’s troops smashed for four against Chippenham

WEYMOUTH’S opening league fixture at the Bob Lucas Stadium was well and truly one to forget for the Terras, as they were soundly beaten by Chippenham Town.

A Chris Shephard strike late on proved just a mere consolation as the damage has already been done by the Bluebirds, who ran riot to record their first league win of the campaign.

Weymouth boss Jason Matthews put his trust in those that started the game against Biggleswade Town in their 3-1 win at the weekend, meaning two-goal hero from the opening day Sam Jordan had to once again settle for a spot on the bench.

Warned in the build-up about Chippenham’s attacking threat by boss Matthews, the Bluebirds did hand starts to former Newport County man Andy Sandell – last season’s league top scorer – and David Pratt, a summer addition from Bath City.

But, after a frenetic opening where both sides struggled to get the ball down and play, it was Chippenham’s Matt Smith who gave the visitors a 1-0 lead on six minutes.

He latched on to a defence-splitting pass and ran through one-on-one with Matthews, who was left helpless in the home goal as the Bluebirds drew first blood.

That was the second goal the Terras have conceded inside the opening minutes this season, and they appeared shaken following the opener. Smith tried his luck in adding a second, but his tame effort was gathered by the Terras’ boss on this occasion.

Chippenham continued to get forward with confidence, and they doubled their lead thanks to striker Sandell on 23 minutes.

He initially won a free-kick on the right flank, which also earned Weymouth’s Jake Wannell a caution. The set-piece was delivered menacingly by James Guthrie onto the head of Sandell to power home his second in as many league games.

That was not to be the end of his scoring for the evening however.

After strike partner David Pratt was adjudged to have been brought down in the box by Calvin Brooks, up stepped Sandell to roll the ball in from the penalty spot to make it 3-0, and put the Terras in a world of trouble.

Weymouth’s Charlie Davis then picked up a deserved caution for bringing down Smith on the counter, and the Bluebirds then saw a free header from inside the box clip the outside of the post moments later.

As frustration grew around the ground, a couple of minutes before the interval, Chris Shephard let fly with a curling effort for the hosts, which was well wide of the target.

The visitors then had another shout for a penalty waved away with the final action of the opening half, as boos were heard around the stadium at the interval.

Following the break, the Terras’ mustered their first real attack with threat. Mark Cooper raced forward from full-back, cut inside and drilled the ball which ricocheted off Greg Tindle for a corner. Dean Evans then fired wide after a late run saw him unmarked in the box from the set-piece.

But it was to get worse for Weymouth, as just nine minutes after the restart, Chippenham added a fourth and Smith got his second.

He let fly with an effort from range, that Matthews got a hand to, but failed to keep out.

At 4-0 down, Weymouth decided to bring on Billy Lowes in place of Jordan Copp and, moments later, Jordan was introduced in place of Conor Jevon.

Thomson then replaced Stewart Yetton as the hosts looked to freshen things up and they finally worked Kent Kauppinen in the Bluebirds’ goal as Davis teed up Shephard to drill a low fizzer.

Shephard was to get his goal with his next chance however, he found the bottom corner after a mazy run nine minutes from time to record a consolation goal for the Terras