SWANAGE TOWN & HERSTON 2 WEYMOUTH RESERVES 3

A TRIPLE-STRIKE from in-form frontman Josh Tennant saw Weymouth Reserves stun Swanage Town & Herston with a second-half blitz at Days Park.

After Conor Jevon and Adam Anstey went close for the visitors, they found themselves trailing 2-0 at the interval thanks to goals from Swans’ duo Graeme Rose and Tony Parrott.

All looked lost for Jake Richmond’s men at that point, but up stepped former Magpies’ striker Tennant to turn the game on its head with three goals in a destructive 15-minute spell, as the Terras recorded a 15th league victory of the campaign.

“We said to the players at half-time that there wasn’t a lot wrong,” Richmond told Echosport.

“Our shape wasn’t bad, we created plenty of chances, we just switched off twice and it cost us two goals. We knew that the next goal was vital.”

After a strong save from visiting keeper Ryan Park early in the second half, Weymouth soon rallied and they began to dictate proceedings.

Sammy Nichols turned the ball into the net but was adjudged to have handled, earning him a caution, but the away side didn’t have to wait much longer to get off the mark.

Tennant showed great awareness to latch on to a rebound and convert from a tight angle to make it 2-1.

With his tail up, the powerful hitman was then provided an accomplished finish to level things up.

And with around 10 minutes left on the clock, Tennant added his third to seal a hat-trick and give delighted manager Richmond all three points, though Nichols was sent off late on.

Quizzed on star man Tennant’s display, the Weymouth boss added: “He is fast becoming player of the season for me, he doesn’t stop working, he was brilliant.

“I cannot fault the lad, he may not have the technical ability but he works hard and is worth two players at times for us.

“The minute we scored to get it to 2-1 their heads dropped, we had them on the back foot. We showed a lot of guts and the response was very good.”

The victory puts Weymouth three points behind fourth-placed Parley Sports in the Dorset Premier League standings.

Terras: Park, West, Butcher, Anstey, Harvey, Sharpe, Matuszewski, Nichols, Beasley, Tennant, Jevon (G Will 60). Sub not used: J Will