Harry Baker strikes late as Weymouth march on
ST IVES 1
Seymour-Shove 16
WEYMOUTH 2
Goodship 70, Baker 89
A LATE Harry Baker header gave Weymouth a dramatic 2-1 Evo-Stik Southern Premier Division win at lowly St Ives.
Ben Seymour-Shove gave the hosts a 16th-minute lead after he applied a close-range finish to a pinpoint cross, and the Saints were denied a second goal by a fine stop from Weymouth’s Mark Travers, who pushed a powerful volley onto the post.
But Weymouth turned the match around with a goal from the red-hot Brandon Goodship on 70 minutes after Josh Wakefield’s delightful pass, before the midfielder again turned provider for Baker to nod home at the back post with one minute of normal time remaining to continue his side’s outstanding run of form with a sixth successive victory.
The Terras made just one change to the XI that started Tuesday night’s impressive 3-2 win over Merthyr Town, with Matt Tubbs replacing Wakefield, who dropped to a four-man bench.
Wakefield was joined in the dug-out by Tiago Sa, goalkeeper Isaac Haigh and striker Baker, who signed a new contract with the Terras before kick-off.
With the effects of Storm Brian being felt by football clubs across the country, it was perhaps no surprise that both teams struggled to manufacture a chance in the opening minutes.
When the first one did come, it fell to Weymouth as right wing-back Calvin Brooks ran through in the inside-right position before seeing a firm shot saved at the near post by Jacob Marsden – the Saints’ fourth new goalkeeper of the season.
Two minutes later St Ives took the lead, with the blustery conditions playing a significant role in the build-up.
A long ball forward hung in the wind and the hosts were able to work a cross from out wide, giving Seymour-Shove a close-range tap-in.
Weymouth’s response to conceding the opening goal was led by the in-form Goodship, whose firm shot was parried by Marsden to Tubbs, but luckily for the Saints the experienced frontman was unable to clip the ball home from the rebound.
The visitors had goalkeeper Travers to thank for keeping their deficit to one goal as the Irishman leapt smartly to push a fierce volley onto the post.
But Weymouth ended the second half on the front foot after two pieces of good work from Brooks, who was the Terras’ stand-out performer of the half.
Surging forward from defence, Brooks embarked on another penetrative run to beat his man and feed Goodship, whose shot was stopped by Marsden.
Just before the break, Brooks this time went solo, moving past the St Ives defence and hitting a deflected strike narrowly wide of goal.
Both sides again struggled for fluency in the second half as the first 15 minutes went by without incident.
Manager Mark Molesley then made two crucial attacking substitutions as Wakefield replaced Tubbs on the hour, before Baker came on for midfielder Charlie Davis four minutes later.
And with 20 minutes to go Molesley’s men hauled themselves back into the game courtesy of the ruthless Goodship.
Wakefield was the architect, his superb lofted pass perfectly picking out the forward, who kept composed to slide in his ninth goal in six games.
As the visitors pushed for a late winner, Josh Carmichael saw a free-kick saved by Marsden – the latest in a series of stops from the Saints’ goalkeeper.
Weymouth were now fully in the ascendancy and the industrious Brooks was unlucky to see an effort go just wide from an angle after another good move.
But the stage was set for Baker, who headed home an exquisite ball from Wakefield with one minute remaining to seal the Terras’ sixth league win in succession in thrilling fashion.
St Ives: Marsden, Longden, De’Ath (Kelly 17), Smith, Short, Jarrold, Clark, McGowan, Libertucci (Sawyer 80), Seymour-Shove, Hall (Hartley 60). Sub not used: Wright
Terras: Travers, Brooks, Buckley, Wells, Down, Carmichael, Davis (Baker 64), McCarthy, Thomson, Goodship, Tubbs (Wakefield 60). Subs not used: Sa, Haigh
