JASON Matthews has agreed terms to secure the services of wingers Dan Smith and Aaron Rodriguez for the upcoming campaign.
Smith, who was not part of the Weymouth side that lost 5-1 against Eastleigh at the Bob Lucas Stadium in a friendly tonight, has been part of the Terras’ set-up throughout pre-season and is set to stay on non-contract terms.
Rodriguez has also come in on a trial basis and has impressed the Terras’ boss over the last week.
Explaining the deals, player-manager Matthews told Echosport: “Dan was unavailable through illness with a late call but I have verbally agreed terms with Dan.
“He is a player I have liked for quite a while and he needs to keep his level of performance up. If he does I see him being in the starting XI.”
He added: “Aaron is one that I have tried to chase all summer.
“I am really pleased that he decided to come down and give it a go.
“He is a fantastic acquisition to the squad.”
The Spitfires opened the scoring after just three minutes against the Terras tonight when trialist Luca Prelevic from New Zealand smashed the ball home from inside the box.
Some tenacity from Weymouth striker Stewart Yetton allowed the home side to get back on level terms just three minutes later however.
He refused to give up on a long ball forward and was brought down by goalkeeper Ryan Huddart after an under-hit back pass from defender Adam Dugdale.
Up stepped Chris Shephard to confidently convert the spotkick to make it 1-1.
Yetton then almost got on the scoresheet himself before having to be replaced with a groin problem. He clipped the outside of a post after good work from Mark Cooper on the left flank.
Five minutes before the interval, Eastleigh’s Mikael Mandron stabbed the ball into the bottom corner to re-claim the advantage for the Spitfires and Yemi Odubade then converted from the spot to add a third.
As the hosts made changes, Eastleigh’s Jack Smith and James Constable also got their names on the scoresheet late on and the game finished 5-1 to the away side.
Terras: Matthews (Thomas 51), Wells (Marques 46), Cooper (Jevon 64), Evans, Wannell (Butcher 73), Brooks, Rodriguez (Jordan 64), Davis, Yetton (Thomson 36), Copp, Shephard (Molesley 46).
