Weymouth vs Cirencester

Recap

Centurions fall as Weymouth strike four

WEYMOUTH showed signs of getting over their 2016 hangover, as they kicked off the new year with a comfortable home victory against Cirencester Town.

A first-half double from Jordan Copp followed up by second-half strikes from Stewart Yetton and Stuart Fleetwood proved enough for the Terras on the afternoon, against opposition that, with respect, were not the best to travel to the Bob Lucas Stadium this season.

The only argument Jason Matthews’ could have had with his side is that they didn’t score more against the Centurions, but he would be happy to record a much-needed three points.

The Terras made one change from the side that drew with Biggleswade last time out. Fleetwood dropped to the bench in place of Aaron Rodriguez. Interestingly, for the second game in succession, Stephane Zubar took the captain’s armband for the hosts.

The visitors named former Magpies’ loanee Tony Lee up front, Lee scored a stunning free-kick for Dorchester at the Bob Lucas Stadium back in August.

And it was Lee who came close to opening the scoring after just six minutes. He cut inside and sent a curling effort which was tipped over the bar by Tom McHale in the Weymouth goal.

The Centurions were then gifted another opportunity when Calvin Brooks’ clearance was charged down 25 yards out and Centurions’ full-back Kieran Diaz-Benitez latched on the loose ball.

Having run in on goal he sliced at the effort with his left foot and McHale could watch the sail wide comfortably.

But the Terras then started to wake up and stamp their authority on proceedings. On 23 minutes, Chris Shephard found Rodriguez, whose blocked effort fell to Copp, who could only blaze over the bar.

The Weymouth winger only had to wait until a minute later to break the deadlock however. He took aim once again from the edge of the box and saw his strike deflect off Ben Brown and into the net for 1-0.

And just two minutes later, the Terras doubled their lead. Shephard was brought down in the area and referee James Robinson pointed straight to the penalty spot.

Up stepped playmaker Shephard, who initially saw his penalty and the rebound saved by Raajan Gill in the visitors’ goal, but there was that man Copp to tap home at the Terras’ third attempt.

Copp seemed to be at the heart of everything for the Terras in the opening half, and he almost had a hat-trick before the half-hour mark. He drove at his full-back on the counter and flashed the ball across goal, an effort which whistled just past the far post.

Chances continued to come for the home side as they looked to kill the game off. Matthews opted to bring Stewart Yetton on in place of Rodriguez.

Fleetwood then dragged the ball wide again as Thomson was taken off in place of Charlie Davis. Moments after, Yetton headed wide unchallenged.

But the club captain was not to be denied seven minutes from time as he was on hand to slot home a well-placed delivery from Davis and make it 3-0 to claim all three points.

Zubar was forced to limp off leaving Weymouth down to 10 men having made all three changes in the latter stages but that did not stop Fleetwood getting his name on the score sheet and hadding a fourth in stoppage time.