WAREHAM RANGERS 0

WEYMOUTH RESERVES 3

ASHLEY Wells scored on his return to action as the Terras stretched their unbeaten run to four games with a hard-fought win at Wareham Rangers.

The talented full-back, who missed the first two months of the season due to a broken ankle, opened the scoring on 25 minutes before further goals from Tom Bell and Sanchez Baker settled matters in the second half.

However, the game was a lot closer than the scoreline suggests. Weymouth joint-boss Jake Richmond said: “The pitch was heavy so it was very difficult to play a lot of football on it. Instead we had to dig in at times and we did that very well indeed.

“The first 15 minutes were very tense and they had a great chance to go in front when Adam Anstey conceded a penalty.

“This week we had Mark Cottingham helping us out in goal, as Chris Povall was injured and Jamie Perry was with the first team, and he dived to his right and made a fine save. It wasn’t the best of penalties but the way he held on to it in his midrift was excellent.

“We then went up the other end and hit the bar from a 30-yard free-kick from Luke Winsper before taking the lead on 25 minutes through Ashley, who cut into the box, beat two or three players and then slotted the ball into the far corner of the net.

“After that they upped the tempo a bit but we managed to hold on until half-time and after a couple of great last-ditch blocks from Ben Doidge and Matt Morley at the start of the second half, we grabbed a second when Matt cut in from the left and squared the ball to Tom, who finished well from 12 yards.

“That gave us a bit of a cushion and then 15 minutes later we killed the game with a third.

“Lee Sharpe was denied by a worldy save before Matt again cut in from the left just a couple of minutes later and teed up Sanchez for a tap-in.

“We defended really well on the day and showed a lot of mettle, and it was just great to keep the momentum going.”

When asked about Wells’ performance, Richmond added: “We were told just to give him a half and he looked very sharp indeed. His first touch was fantastic, he was quick to the ball and his anticipation was good.

“His first-team qualities were there for all to see and it was just great to see him back out there again.”

The Terras now lie eighth in the Magna Dorset Premier League, just four points adrift of the top five.

Terras: Cottingham, Wells (Morley 46), Holland, Anstey, Doidge, Greatrex, Winsper, Sharpe, Zima (Harvey 75), Bell, Hind (Baker 60).