DEAN Evans earned plaudits from boss Jason Matthews after his first game in a Terras’ shirt, and the Weymouth chief insists the former Paulton Rovers’ man provides his team with a different type of player in the middle of the park.

Evans was introduced in place of Tim Sills just past the hour mark at the Bob Lucas Stadium, and his new manager believed his solidarity was vital in allowing Chris McPhee to operate higher up the pitch at the weekend.

Commenting on the new midfielder’s performance, Matthews said: “I have no doubts that Dean will be a very good signing for us. He impressed me, his attitude and fitness is very good.

“All of a sudden Cirencester couldn’t pull off their spoiling tactics, he wouldn’t let them do it and it allowed Macca to give us a different dimension up top.

“I felt that he gave Paulton a little bit of an edge in the middle of midfield before he came here. All of our midfield players are very good players but Dean has something that they probably haven’t got.

“He has got that bit of a nasty streak in him, it’s something we lacked before.

“When people wanted me to sign people I kept saying it’s about getting the right players in. I feel in Dean that I have got the right signing and I am delighted he has chosen to come here.”

Quizzed on his side’s title charge, which he admits has stuttered in recent weeks, Matthews added: “We are averaging over two points a game again, we have had our blip and now we need to go on a run.

"We faltered a little bit when we went top and it was new to a few of the lads, maybe it won’t be quite so new next time.”