SOUTH CHERITON UTD 2 WEYMOUTH RESERVES 2

WEYMOUTH Reserves chief Bradley Asagba believes it's just a case of getting striker Mark Ford “up to speed” before he starts to fire on all cylinders this season.

Ford came off the bench to strike a leveller in the Terras’ 2-2 draw against South Cheriton United on Saturday.

The former Salisbury and Blandford United marksman provided the finishing touch after Jacob Carter beat two players and put the striker in on goal.

Weymouth, who twice came from behind and trailed 1-0 at the interval, scored their other goal through Henry Akinsuyi earlier in the second half.

Those strikes cancelled out a double from Cheriton’s Matt Cottrell either side of the break.

Commenting on striker Ford, who was forced off against Holt United with an ankle problem in the Dorset Premier League Cup last month, Asagba told Echosport: “It’s been hard for him because he hasn’t had much of a pre-season and on his second game back he got injured.

“Mark’s game is based around his fitness and sharpness. When he doesn’t have that and he is not up to speed it can be difficult for him.

“We all know if he is up to speed he could quite easily score 30 to 40 goals in this league, so it’s a case of getting him there.”

Ford was part of a performance the Terras’ manager fully believed deserved three points at South Cheriton Rec, and Asagba was keen to take the positives from his team’s showing.

He added: “It was one of our best footballing performances.

“Our use of the ball was really good up until the final third. We just weren’t quite clinical enough with our chances, which has been a problem all season.

“In a lot of games we have a good amount of possession but in this game, if it was in terms of statistics, it would have probably been 70 to 75% our way.

“We have only been undone by a couple of lapses at the back and we came away without the result that we deserved.

“I know on face value people might have been thinking it was a straight forward game for us and I knew it wouldn’t be.

“Sooner or later somebody is going to get on the end of one (a big result) from us and it will all click.”

Terras: Boore, Zima, Butcher, Anstey, Akinsuyi, Cullingford, Peart (Carter), Bergin (Reeves), P Ford, Ayley, Jansz-Baker (M Ford).

Balti Sports had to settle for a 3-3 draw at Sherborne Town Reserves, while Bridport Reserves drew 0-0 at Wareham Rangers.