Weymouth boss hails 'massive result' (From Dorset Echo)

Weymouth boss hails 'massive result'

8:26am Monday 11th March 2013 in Sport By Adam Summers

Video courtesy of Weymouth FC

IT may have been a bit ugly but Brendon King was overjoyed with Saturday’s victory over the Puritans, branding it “a massive result” in his side’s quest to finish in the play-offs.

The Weymouth boss could hardly contain himself when Ed Palmer rocketed home the only goal of the game with just three minutes left and his delight was all too evident afterwards.

He told Echosport: “That was huge. To win a game like that after two really tough victories on the road was massive.

“Other teams still have games in hand on us but the last three results have put us right in the mix now with just eight games to go.

“We still have a lot to do but if we can stay focused and keep the same self-belief going we have at the present time, then who knows where it could take us?”

The last 128 days have witnessed a remarkable upturn in fortunes for Weymouth, which no one could have predicted.

Following the 5-1 home defeat against Stourbridge back on November 3, the Terras were languishing in 13th spot, having collected just 14 points out of a possible 39.

King’s job was even being called into question at that stage but a victory in the following league game at St Albans City proved the catalyst for an incredible turnaround.

Since the Stourbridge debacle, the Terras have gone on to pick up 44 points from 21 games – a run that now sees them sitting fourth in the Evo-Stik Southern Premier Division with a two-point cushion over sixth-placed Barwell.

King went on to add: “In the first half on Saturday we weren’t sharp enough and looked really tired.

“Having said that, I must give Banbury some credit too because I thought they were good.

“They squeezed us all over the pitch and in the end we began to drop too deep.

“Simon Evans still didn’t have a save to make though, and we knew if we could change a few things in the second half we could go on and win it.

“And full credit to the lads because they did exactly that and eventually we got our just reward but only after their keeper had pulled off two outstanding saves.

“He may well have been a bit unsighted for Ed’s strike but the stops he made to deny Sam Poole and Scott Walker were just incredible.

“After our first-half performance I would have probably settled for a point but I thought we bossed it in the second half and thoroughly deserved to grab the winner.”

Next up for the Terras is a trip to second-placed Stourbridge on Saturday (3pm) when they will no doubt be out for revenge for that heavy defeat earlier in the campaign.

* The directors of Weymouth FC held a board meeting before the Banbury game and Nigel Biddlecombe is confident there are no plans to oust him as chairman as was rumoured last week.

He told Echosport: “The meeting was very successful and there was no indication of anyone wanting to make any changes.

“I am staying as chairman and the board is staying as elected by the shareholders.

“We discussed the current financial status of the club and also our plans for next season, culminating of course in Scott Walker, Danny Clay and Ben Joyce all signing their contracts.

“A budget was also agreed for next season, which is very generous and within our means.”