CINDERFORD TOWN 0
WEYMOUTH 2
WEYMOUTH battled out their fifth successive away league win through a thick sheet of fog enveloping Cinderford Town’s soggy ground.
A goal in either half sealed the victory which pushed the Terras to within two points of the Dr Martens Southern Division promotion places and condemned Cinderford to the bottom spot.
On display for the Terras was new signing Chris Leadbitter, a 30-year old midfielder who had been on loan from Plymouth Argyle to Torquay United.
He gave a good account of himself with some timely runs and through-balls as the Terras continued their slick passing game with devastating effect.
Terras manager John Crabbe said: “It was a good, well-deserved victory and the performance was excellent considering the conditions.
“Cinderford are a team who are really struggling at the moment and it was a comfortable win in the end.”
He added: “lt was good to see Mark Jackson come through so well in the second half.
“He has been beset with injuries and illness since he came here and had a rather poor first half but after the break he was a lot livelier and caused no end of problems.”
Weymouth gave an indication of their mood in the second minute when David Laws outpaced the home defence and unselfishly slipped the hall across to Mark Robinson but keeper Peter Mason superbly punched away his point-blank shot.
However, after a bright start it was Cinderford who began to dominate the game and there were a few anxious moments as the white-clad home team pushed their way through the mist.
On one occasion it was only a last-gasp tackle from Ian Hutchinson which denied Clayton Hook a clear shot on goal.
But the Terras forced their way back into the match and came close to scoring on 22 minutes when Alex Browne drove the ball through the heart of the Cinderford defence and Laws sliding effort skidded wide.
Two minutes later it was down to Browne that the Terras did finally find the back of the net.
Cinderford’s defenders held back as Browne cut between them with the ball. He shrugged off two tackles then as he fell after another lunge he managed to flick the ball forward for Robinson to bury in the bottom right corner.
Colin Peacey’s uncontrolled clearance seconds after the second half kicked-off came perilously close to being an own goal, then in the 47th minute the Terras did extend their lead.
With apparent ease Browne cut through a cluster of home defenders, Jackson doggedly shook off his marker to win the through-hall and planted it just beyond the reach of the diving keeper.
After that the home team never really threatened to force their way back into the game, although the pea-soup fog made passing difficult and had the potential to throw up some surprises.
A shot in the 82nd minute from Peacey brought some derisive cheers from the goal-starved home supporters but Paul Myers was more than a match for it and the Terras came away with their second successive clean sheet.
Weymouth: Myers, Powell, Flory (Watkins 88), Browne, Waldock, Mason, Robinson, Hutchinson, Jackson, Laws, Leadbitter.
Unused subs: Crabbe, Carr.