CHICHESTER 5 WEYMOUTH 4

IN THEIR first league fixture after the Christmas break, Weymouth went agonisingly close to pulling off a draw following a disastrous first half in which hosts Chichester earned a 5-1 lead.

The Seasiders had not played a competitive match since their final game of 2015 on December 12 and the lack of sharpness was apparent during the opening exchanges, an issue that was not helped in the defensive ranks by the absence of centre-backs Michael Westlake and Dave Beaudro.

Matthew Bell and Roland Gill filled in the middle of the defence and were troubled throughout the first half by a quick and skilfull centre-forward pairing for the hosts.

Surprisingly it was Weymouth that were first on the scoresheet. Luke Drewitt, filling in at left-back, found time and space in the Chichester half and accurately picked out Aaron Wilkinson’s run into the circle for an angled deflection past the goalkeeper.

The hosts recovered well, however, and began their early goal rush.

Too easily they were able to clear their lines and move the ball on to their forwards.

The speed at which the ball was played up the pitch allowed the Weymouth back-line to be constantly disrupted and create chances of which five were successful.

At the break, Weymouth skipper Steven Membury ordered his forward line to ease pressure on the Chichester defence in order to fill the gaps in the midfield.

At the other end, his centre-backs were instructed to step in front of their opposite men in the hope of intercepting passes and starving the forwards of possession.

Both tactics paid dividends and, from the restart, Weymouth were in the ascendency.

The Seasiders forced more possession into the wide areas where they were then able to pressure the ball in numbers and turn over possession.

The first goal of the fight back came from a penalty corner.

Although the routine broke down, Patrick May picked up a loose ball and fired to the back post where Simon Harvey was on hand to turn the ball into the goal.

Buoyed by this success, Weymouth further raised their intensity.

As the hosts started to retreat into their half, the Weymouth wing backs of Harvey and Drewitt were allowed more space to advance up the flanks and similarly defensive midfielder Daniel Bowles was given space to fire in from just outside the Chichester 23m line.

Drewitt grabbed the Seasiders’ third of the match with a darting run in from the left followed by a precision strike along the ground just inside the right post.

At 5-3 and only minutes to go, opportunities seemed to be running out for the visitors.

However, Chichester did not help their cause. Weymouth won a penalty corner and, during the set up, the Chichester goalkeeper talked himself into a yellow card from the umpire and therefore a trip to the sin-bin.

Weymouth took full advantage of the handicap and May unleashed a drag flick into the unguarded net.

At the restart with seconds to go, Weymouth committed all of their numbers forward and forced the ball deep into the opposition half where they were able to turn over possession in the left corner.

Wilkinson worked his way into the circle and, under pressure and at full stretch, squeezed a shot off, but to his despair it sailed inches wide of the right post.

At the full-time whistle, Weymouth were left one goal away from salvaging a point but skipper Membury was immediately on hand at the debrief to congratulate his team on their efforts and character in so dramatically turning around such a dismal first-half performance.

The result served as a wake-up call for how the team must perform from the starting whistle and should provide the necessary incentive for this Saturday’s home fixture against Salisbury.

Man of the match: Luke Drewitt

Goals: Wilkinson, Harvey, Drewitt, May