Weymouth 3-1 Dartford: Terras up to 21st after huge win

Rose 24 pen, Ash 62, Blair 76

DARTFORD 1

Fonkeu 43

WEYMOUTH claimed a priceless three points by beating high-flying Dartford 3-1 at the Bob Lucas Stadium.

Ahkeem Rose put Weymouth ahead midway through the first half, winning and converting a penalty for his 14th goal of the season.

Ex-Weymouth winger Pierre Fonkeu equalised before half-time but a stunning team goal from Brad Ash, his 17th of the campaign, put the Terras 2-1 up.

And a venomous direct free-kick from Tom Blair screamed into the top corner 14 minutes from time to seal a golden victory for the hosts.

Tom Blair, 14, is mobbed after scoring a delightful free-kick (Image: MARK PROBIN)

READ MORE: Weymouth 3-1 Dartford - how it happened

After last week's 5-0 thrashing of Concord, Weymouth were unchanged.

One player who missed out was Jamie Egan after his recall to parent club Bristol Rovers.

It left Weymouth with four loanees in their matchday squad out of a possible five.

Reading duo Nahum Melvin-Lambert and David Nyarko were on the bench, along with midfielders Matt Buse and Scott Rees.

There was good news for Weymouth in the dugout as winger Keelan O'Connell made his return from a groin injury.

And the Terras made an encouraging start and caused jitters in the Darts’ defence when keeper Ben Dudzinski failed to deal with Tom Blair’s cross.

Weymouth then recycled the ball and Harvey Slade’s shot on goal was blocked on the line by Tom Bonner before Rose was flagged offside on the follow-up.

Dartford, second in the table at kick-off, had offered little in the opening minutes until Nathan Carlyle’s mistake allowed Alex Wall to run through.

Carlyle chased back to make amends and fully atoned for his error by not only tackling the forward but playing the ball off him for a goal-kick.

Weymouth earned the first corner of the game as the Terras pushed on but despite it coming to nothing they went ahead from the spot in the 24th minute.

Rose was savvy in the box and drew a foul from Bonner.

Boss Bobby Wilkinson had given Rose penalty responsibility after two misses by Brad Ash, and the same fate did not befall the Jamaican as he coolly sent Dudzinksi the wrong way for 1-0.

Ahkeem Rose scored his 14th goal of the season (Image: MARK PROBIN)

Dartford’s response was befitting of a side flying high in the table as the Darts dominated the remainder of the half.

Luke Coulson had an effort cleared off the line by Xander McBurnie and ex-Yeovil star Keiran Murtagh could not get enough purchase on his effort from a corner.

The Antigua and Barbuda midfielder went into the book for a foul on Carlyle and Wall was denied by a good block on the edge of the area.

However, Weymouth could not withstand the pressure as Fonkeu was allowed two bites of the cherry from a corner.

The Cameroon winger first saw a volley blocked but the ex-Norwich wide man then nestled a good finish through a crowd of bodies and a guarded goalline to equalise.

Pierre Fonkeu, second right, scored against his former club (Image: MARK PROBIN)

Blair tried to respond for Weymouth before half-time only to shovel a shot over the bar.

In a dull start to the second period, neither side made an impression before some heat was injected into the game thanks to three dubious offside calls against Ash.

The decisions riled everyone in Weymouth colours but the Terras harnessed the frustration to go on a two-goal charge that would win them the game.

Ash scored a quite sumptuous team move as David Sesay and Xander McBurnie combined beautifully before working Ash into the move, the striker released into space and slotting a ruthless finish home for 2-1 in the 62nd minute.

Brad Ash, centre, coolly finished after a sublime move from Weymouth (Image: MARK PROBIN)

Weymouth continued to attack as Blair sped into the box and brought a flying stop from Dudzinski before Tom Bearwish had a shot blocked.

Blair would get the goal his performance deserved when he bulleted a free-kick into the top corner from 20 yards, his effort screaming past the helpless Dudzinski.

Tom Blair's free-kick left keeper Ben Dudzinski helpless (Image: MARK PROBIN)

And the in-form winger chased a second goal late on, firing over in stoppage-time as Dartford offered little in retaliation.

Weymouth stay 22nd in the table but are now just a point from safety after Cheshunt drew 1-1 with Havant.

Terras: Oualah, Sesay, Carlyle, Kyprianou, Slade (O’Connell 75), McBurnie, Bearwish, Blair, Willson, Rose (Melvin-Lambert 86), Ash. Subs not used: Buse, Nyarko, Rees.

Dartford: Dudzinski, Wynter (Allen 73), Essam, Bonner, Coulson, Wall, Murtagh (Onyeagwara 79), Ogundere, Smith, Fonkeu (Napa 66), Meade. Subs not used: Wilks, Statham.

Referee: Neil Pratt

Attendance: 902