Fourth defeat in a row for King’s troops (From Dorset Echo)

Fourth defeat in a row for King’s troops

8:38am Monday 30th January 2012 in Match Reports By Adam Summers

OXFORD CITY 2

Wilmott 65, Ballard 71

WEYMOUTH 0

TWO goals in six second-half minutes condemned the Terras to a fourth successive defeat at the Court Place Farm Stadium.

For an hour, Weymouth looked on course to claim at least a point against title-chasing Oxford City but a momentary lapse in concentration at a corner on 65 minutes ended up costing them dear.

Chris Wilmott was the man that took advantage and just moments later it was game over as Andy Ballard grabbed a second with a miscued strike that deflected into the bottom corner. That goal summed up the Terras’ luck on the day but boss Brendon King is confident the tide will soon turn.

He told Echosport: “The pitch was heavy and the game was a bit scrappy at times but we competed a lot better and matched them throughout.

“We played a different system and after a pretty even first half, we came out in the second and started really well with their opening goal coming very much against the run of play, before they then grabbed another six minutes later.

“The previous week I had a bit of a pop at the lads after the Evesham game, demanding a reaction and there is no doubt we got one.

“Unfortunately though, things are not quite going our way at the moment.

“Decisions are going against us and the ball is not falling kindly in front of goal.

“However, if we keep believing and continue to perform like that I am confident things will turn around.”

Having seen his side ship 13 goals in their last three games, King reshuffled his defence by welcoming back Alex Jeannin, who was handed the sweeper role in a back three alongside Sam Poole and Ben Gerring.

Yeovil Town loanee Lewis Clarke also came in for the injured Lewis Tasker while Ryan McKechnie made a rare start in the absence of Sam Mal-som, who did not travel due to ongoing transfer talks with Dorchester Town.

Richard Marshallsay also dropped to the bench where Chris Povall once again provided cover for keeper Nick Jordan with Tom Manley still sidelined through illness.

The visitors made a steady start with Matt Groves testing home stopper Jason Mooney in the opening minute and Stephen Reed sending an effort just off target.

There were also a couple of smart stops from Jordan at the other end to deny Marvin Martin and Liam Malone but for the most part, the half remained fairly even with Wey-mouth’s defence standing up well to City’s lively forwards.

Wilmott did strike a post with a 25-yard effort on 38 minutes but apart from that the Terras looked a lot more solid and deserved to be on level terms at half-time.

In fact, in the early exchanges of the second period, they very nearly went ahead when Mooney pulled off a great save from Sam Poole and Ben Gerring had an effort cleared off the line from the resulting corner.

The hosts were starting to look concerned but on 65 minutes the Terras gifted their opponents a soft opener.

A corner was swung in from the left and with Jordan failing to come through a crowd of players to collect, Wilmott ghosted in to send home a free header from just six yards.

That setback sent a shockwave through King’s men and after Martin squandered a great chance moments later, City grabbed a second on 71 minutes.

Once again the Terras failed to react quickly enough to a cross into the box and when the ball was only half cleared, Ballard scuffed a deflec- ted shot past Jordan and into the bottom right corner of the net.

Weymouth tried to respond in the final 15 minutes but apart from a shot from Gerring which flew over the top, City held on with relative ease to leave King’s men devastated.

The Terras’ boss added: “Nick was cleverly blocked off for their first goal and the second was a scuffed shot which was going wide until it deflected into the corner.

“They are the type of things that are going against us at the minute, but all we can do, is continue to roll our sleeves up.

“We desperately need a goal. We have dried up a bit in that respect and I am sure once one goes in our fortunes will start to change.”

Oxford: Mooney, Clarke, Learoyd, Ballard, Lyon (Taylor 75), Wilmott, Malone, Benjamin, Haysham (Bell 57), Barcelos (McEachran 81), Martin. Subs not used: Fleet, Blossom.

Terras: Jordan, Clarke (Tribe 79), Jeannin, Napper, Gerring, Poole, Duff, McKechnie, Groves (Marshallsay 79), Byerley, Reed. Subs not used: Povall, King, Dixon.

Referee: Steven Rea

Bookings – Oxford: Benjamin (foul 42).

Terras: Gerring (foul 22), Jeannin (foul 37), Clarke (foul 68).

Attendance: 260