Terras must learn their lessons

NICK Bennett has warned the Terras they must learn their lessons quicker if they want to avoid more frustration in the Magna Dorset Premier League.

Weymouth’s second-string pulled off the best result since their reformation when they overcame Hamworthy Recreation at the beginning of the month but since then their standards have slipped in disappointing fashion.

A poor opening 20 minutes saw the Terras fall to a 3-1 home defeat against Poole Borough on September 8 and in their latest outing they failed to fire again in a shock 5-0 drubbing at Blandford United.

When asked for his thoughts on the last couple of weeks, joint-boss Bennett said: “The defeat at Blandford is easily our poorest result by a mile.

“They were solid and well organised, and you know they are always capable of nicking a goal.

“Having said that though, we had more than enough on the day to get a result but we just didn’t turn up.

“We did the same in the opening 20 minutes against Poole Borough and got punished, and it is clear the lads are going to have to learn these lessons a bit quicker.

"Maybe at the level below and at youth level you can get away with switching off now and again but the higher you go the more often you get punished and they need to start realising that.

“In the last five games we have probably gifted teams six or seven goals and you just cannot afford to do that at any standard.

“We had plenty of possession at Blandford and created chances again but we were two down at the break and once they grabbed the third after we had been on top early in the second half it was game over.

“We then collectively switched off in injury-time and allowed them to grab two more, which was inexcusable.

“It is always good to keep perspective and the fact we finished the game with four 16-year-olds in the side, and Jamie Perry and Lee Sharpe were included in the first-team squad, was fantastic but it does not take away from the fact that we should be winning games like that.”

Bennett went on to add: “There were three or four in the side at Blandford that have real ambitions of playing in the first team one day but they have to understand they have got to start turning up every week.

“It is one thing playing well at the Bob Lucas Stadium on a nice surface but sometimes you have got to go away on a difficult pitch and grind out results and those lads in question need to start showing they can do that.”

Daniel Snow and Joe Baker both grabbed braces for the Royals, whose other goal came from Dan Brockway.

Jamie Beasley turned out for the Terras, who will return to action next Tuesday night with a trip to Hamworthy United Reserves (7.45pm).

Terras: Blundell, Holland, Harvey, Anstey, Do Rosario, Zima (Akakpo 60), Greatrex, Head, Morley, Winsper (Brown 70), Beasley (Frame 46).