BURNHAM 1 WEYMOUTH 3

WEYMOUTH made it three league victories out of three as they came from behind to claim an away victory at Burnham and move up to ninth position in the Southern Premier League table.

Manager Jason Matthews named an unchanged side to the starting XI that overcame Bashley in midweek, but was forced into making changes on the bench as Luke Winsper and Ben Joyce were ruled out with injuries. Striker Carl McClements and Lee Sharpe took their places.

As has happened in their encounters on recent occasions, Matthews’ men got off to a lethargic start and gave the initiative to the home side on a scrappy playing surface.

Player-boss Matthews was called into action early as he was forced to make a smart save from a free-kick on the edge of his area within minutes.

Burnham, who had lost nine of their last 10 league games going into the contest, looked much the brighter side from the off as midfielder Ryan Blake proceeded to threaten a nervous Terras defence in the opening exchanges.

And after withstanding some heavy pressure, the Weymouth backline eventually cracked. Defender Ashley Wells lost possession and Burnham’s Myles Hippolyte pounced to open the scoring for the home side on 15 minutes.

Opportunities were few and far between in a frustrating first half for the visitors, and the Terras knew their opponents were going to possess dogged determination in front of their home crowd.

The contest started to get heated midway through the first half when Weymouth’s wide men Isaac Vassell and Adam Kelly both took the brunt of some nasty challenges that put Burnham’s Lewis Driver and John Munday in referee Christopher O’Donnell’s book.

A first notable chance then fell to Terras’ striker Stewart Yetton.

Skipper Yetton, who has been in lethal form for the Terras with six goals in his last five games, managed to create some space and struck a sharp effort from an almost impossible angle that was cleared off the line with 35 minutes gone.

The front man then combined well with Jacob Jagger-Cane, who couldn’t muster a shot on target as Weymouth went in frustrated and a goal behind at the break.

Having been rallied by a Matthews team talk at the interval, the visitors then came out much brighter and showed a lot more intent against the Blues, who had only kept one clean sheet in their last 12 league games.

A 10-minute period then turned the whole fixture on its head.

A Vassell rocket fizzed inches over from 30 yards, while minutes later, the winger was on hand to flick the ball on at the near post from George Rigg’s corner allowing Kelly to send the ball home and level things up on the hour mark.

Moments later, Burnham’s Blake was involved in a moment of madness that gave referee O’Donnell no choice but to hand him a straight red card.

After an offside decision was given, Blake stood on the ball to prevent stopper Matthews from taking a quick free-kick. The midfielder then raised his hand to Weymouth’s Jake Green and was instantly given his marching orders.

With a man advantage, the Terras then took control and it was that man Yetton who put his side into the lead once again.

He broke clear and although Burnham goalkeeper Adam Lawrence got a hand to the strike, he could not prevent the Terras’ striker netting his 22nd of the season and putting the Weymouth ahead with 20 minutes remain-ing.

As the home side then pushed forward, they were exposed by the pace of Vassell on the counter attack, who coolly rounded Law-rence and stroked the ball home to grab his second goal in a week and give Weymouth a maximum return from their last three encounters.

Burnham: Lawrence, Pilbean, Stevens, Munday, Smith, Togwell, Upward, Hippolyte, Couch, Driver, Blake. Subs: Kebamba, Boultwood, Lavender, Joseph, Willmont

Terras: Matthews, Wells, Green, Colwell, Hutchings, Richards, Kelly, Jagger-Cane (Walker 78), Yetton, Rigg, Vassell. Subs not used: Poole, McClements, Sharpe, Holland.

Bookings – Burnham: Munday (foul), Taylor (foul)

Weymouth: None

Sent off – Burnham: Blake (violent conduct)

Referee: Christopher O’Donnell

Attendance: 120