Weymouth cement play-offs with Reds win

REDDITCH UNITED    1
Dunkley 11
WEYMOUTH    2
Thomson 7, Goodship 25

WEYMOUTH cannot mathematically finish outside of the play-offs after they secured a 2-1 win at Redditch United in the Evo-Stik Southern Premier Division.

Goals from Ben Thomson and Brandon Goodship cancelled out a Tristain Dunkley goal to ensure that Weymouth’s season will not finish with the visit of Hitchin Town to the Bob Lucas Stadium on April 28.

The Terras will now face a play-off semi final, assuming they do not overhaul an eight point deficit to league leaders Hereford, on Wednesday, May 2.

Weymouth faced former striker Stuart Fleetwood, who scored 18 goals for them last season as he started for the Reds.

Calvin Brooks, who has four goals in his last three appearances returned to the Weymouth starting line-up after recovering from an illness that kept him out of the 5-0 win at Gosport.

He came into the squad alongside Charlie Davis as the two replaced Harry Baker, who dropped to the bench, and Ashley Wells who was absent from the team entirely.

Weymouth started well as they had an early chance with Goodship shooting wide from inside the box in the third minute.

Like on Monday against Gosport, the Terras took an early lead as Thomson broke the deadlock early on.

In the seventh minute Thomson got to the edge of the box after receiving the ball from Davis, before firing the ball into the bottom corner.

Two minutes later and the Terras nearly had another, with Abdulai Baggie breaking through the defence but firing at Ethan Ross in the Reds’ goal.

The Reds then had a superb chance as from a Danny Jackman corner but Montel Gibson forced a goalline clearance from the Terras.

Weymouth could not hold on however, as Dunkley headed in off the underside of the bar moments later from a corner.

This was the Terras’ first goal conceded in over 380 minutes and they nearly conceded again as Fleetwood headed just over the bar for the home side.

Weymouth would only be level for 14 minutes however, as they soon re-took the lead through Goodship with his 34th goal of the season.

He was set up superbly by Davis before firing in to give Weymouth the lead for the second time.

Goodship then went close soon after as he had a free-kick go over from 30-yards out.

Redditch had good chances but when Ashley Sammons got into the box but he fired straight at team mate Fleetwood to allow the Terras to clear.

Thiago Caze Da Silva forced Ross into a good save from a header as the Terras nearly scored a third.

The two sides went in at the break with Weymouth in front, but the home side had a great chance to  start the second half, as Dunkley got forward put his ball back across could not find Fleetwood or Gibson.

Soon after Jackman stung the palms of Will Dennis with a great long-range effort.

Page then set up Gibson who fired at the Weymouth defence as the home side enjoyed a strong start to the second half.

Goodship came close to scoring a second as from a Callum Buckley cross he hit the ball over the bar.

Weymouth started to come into the second half at this point as Thomson was then denied by Ross shortly after.

The game then quietened down as Weymouth were looking to extend their lead.

Adam Davie went close for the home side with a half-volley after Jordan Mills did well to regain possession after Weymouth cleared the ball away.

Jake McCarthy then went into the book for a late foul on Jackman, and the Reds’ Lewis Wright went into the book for his reaction to the incident.

With five minutes to go Davis put the ball in the box but the Terras could not find a touch and the Reds scrambled it away.

Mills went close late on after a fantastic ball from Jackman but he hit it around the post.

The Terras held onto their lead to secure a great win and cement their play-off ambition into reality.

Weymouth are next in league action on Saturday when they host Banbury United at the Bob Lucas Stadium (3pm), but prior to that on Wednesday they face a friendly at home against the British Virgin Islands (7.30pm).

Redditch: Ross, Ezewele, Mutton, Dunkley, Mills, Sammons (Page 46), Jackman, Wright, Gibson (Davie 67), Fleetwood Subs not used: Fox, Stares, Weir

Terras: Dennis, Brooks, Buckley, Zubar, Caze Da Silva, Carmichael, McCarthy, Baggie (Wakefield 69), Thomson, Goodship, Davis (Sa 88) Subs not used: G.Stewart, Baker