BASINGSTOKE 0 WEYMOUTH 4

WEYMOUTH cruised to a 4-0 victory away at fourth-placed Basingstoke in another one-sided match against the Hampshire side.

Other than a home game against Winchester, the Seasiders’ remaining fixtures are exclusively against sides in the bottom half of the table and their promotion hopes look increasingly likely.

Weymouth adapted to the bouncy conditions immediately and soon threatened the home team’s defence with forward Patrick May opening the scoring with a tap-in, assisted by Chris Fry.

Moments later, Fry doubled the lead when the ball was played back through the high defensive line from a long corner and slapped to him at the left post by centre-back Matthew Underhill.

Unfortunately, Weymouth then lost midfielder Matt Lawes to injury.

The former Weymouth cricket captain did well to fend off a lifted ball but forgot he wasn’t wearing his batting gloves and may have broken a finger on his left hand, forcing him to watch the rest of the game from the sideline.

Joe Foot filled in for Lawes in midfield and the Seasiders resumed their dominance of the encounter.

Daniel Bowles took the game away from Basingstoke with a superb strike after a strong run through midfield. He took the ball to his left at the top of the circle and hit it into the top-right corner past the helpless keeper.

In the second half, Weymouth were careful not to go looking for further goals unnecessarily and risk exposing themselves in defence.

The home side rarely threatened and the Seasiders were content to control possession, largely in the midfield third.

Weymouth’s patience paid off when May took a quick long corner and passed to Bowles just outside the circle.

He then fired the ball in allowing Steven Membury to step off his marker and turn it across goal into the left corner.

Basingstoke then went down to 10 men for the last few minutes, after a frustrated forward took out skipper Simon Harvey, and that enabled Weymouth to see out the rest of the game without much pressure.

The Seasiders host New Milton today, again looking to boost their goal difference and keep the pressure on league leaders Bournemouth.

Green Card: Luke Drewitt

Man of the Match: Matthew Underhill

Hampshire League Two: Basingstoke II 0 Weymouth 4, Havant IV 1 Bournemouth III 5, New Milton 4 Chichester III 5, Southampton II 2 Univ of Portsmouth 4, Southampton Univ III 2 Tadley 2, Winchester III 4 Portsmouth & Southsea 1.

Today’s fixtures: Basingstoke II v Southampton Univ III, Bournemouth III v Tadley, Chichester III v Southampton II, Portsmouth & Southsea v Havant IV, Univ of Portsmouth v Winchester III, Weymouth v New Milton.