WEYMOUTH 0

ST ALBANS CITY 3

(Comley 9, Martin 55, Frendo 79)

THE Terras left the pitch to a chorus of boos this afternoon following another gutless performance against St Albans.

Weymouth registered just two shots on target throughout the 90 minutes as the Saints strolled to a 3-0 victory in front of a frustrated home crowd.

With Dave Allen suspended and Luke Winsper and Jamie Symes missing through injury and illness respectively, Weymouth boss Brendon King had very limited options ahead of kick-off.

Skipper Scott Walker returned from illness and replaced Allen while Sam Poole came in for Michael Walker, who dropped to the bench.

The other four substitutes were goalkeeper Matt Cafer, player/assistant-manager Matt Groves, reserve-team ace Matt Harvey and coach Mickey Greeno.

Following the 7-0 thrashing at Stourbridge the previous weekend, King was clearly after a big response from his side but with the Saints arriving in Dorset unbeaten in 13 games on the road, this was always going to be another tough assignment.

The Terras were certainly going to need to be a lot better at the back.

St Albans entered the clash having netted 19 times in their last six league encounters and in John Frendo possess one of the top strikers in the division.

And sure enough it was the visitors that created the first chance of the contest on seven minutes when David Keenleyside broke into the box and shot just wide of the far post.

The home side looked very subdued and instead of taking heed of that warning they conceded just two minutes later.

There appeared to be little danger when James Comley received the ball 20 yards out but the Weymouth defence stood off and let him shoot and paid the price.

Jason Matthews managed to get a good hand to the effort but could not keep it out and the silence around the ground was deafening as the home fans quickly began to fear the worst.

Frendo was next to go close, seeing an effort pushed over by Matthews on 18 minutes, before Nathan Walker responded with Weymouth’s first attempt moments later, a flick on from a free-kick that dropped harmlessly wide.

The hosts were looking very short on confidence and as a result there was very little tempo in their play.

They desperately needed a lift and Luke Burbidge nearly provided it on 38 minutes when he jinked his way into the box and was denied by a fine block from Paul Bastock.

The Terras were suddenly showing a bit more intent and just before half-time they tested the visiting keeper again.

The ball was worked out to Scott Walker on the left and he let fly from 30 yards, only to see Bastock turn the effort over the crossbar.

It appeared the hosts were beginning to gain a little bit of belief but the Saints came out strong at the start of the second half and eventually doubled their lead on 55 minutes.

Keenleyside blazed over and Mark Nwokeji saw an effort blocked by Sam Poole before Ben Martin made the pressure count by volleying home on the turn from a corner.

The St Albans skipper did well to adjust and turn the ball towards goal but Weymouth will be disappointed that they failed to deal with the initial cross into the box.

That setback appeared to knock the stuffing out of the Terras and moments later the Saints went close to adding a third, with Frendo seeing an effort turned wide by a flying save from Matthews.

The visiting striker was proving a constant threat and on 79 minutes he finally got the goal he deserved when he slipped the ball neatly past Matthews after some more questionable defending.

The Terras did try to rally after that but they lacked any cutting edge in the final third and it took another fine save to deny St Albans a fourth, this time following a long-range shot from Howard Hall.