AN HONEST assessment of 2016 for Weymouth has to be a year consisting of one step forward, two steps back, as the club continue to endure a tough time of it at Southern League level.

Disappointed by missing out on the play-offs once again last season, player-manager Jason Matthews sees his team currently languishing in the league standings this time around as we head into 2017.

There is no questioning Matthews’ desire to succeed in what is still his first role in management, he openly admits that he has an affinity to Weymouth Football Club and it has a place in his heart.

But the harsh reality is something needs to change if he is to capture the success that the club, and its loyal supporters, desperately crave.

Setting the tone for what was to be a year of frustration for the seaside club, January did not get off to a great start for the Terras with manager Matthews claiming their 2-0 defeat against Hitchin at the Bob Lucas Stadium was “the poorest home performance since I have been in charge”.

Three wins on the spin did however elevate them back into the top three by the latter stages of the month. That was until a shock 3-2 defeat at Bedworth United left them reeling heading into a Dorset derby with Poole Town.

A shock inclusion in that encounter at the start of February saw no-nonsense midfielder Shane Krac return for a one-off cameo appearance, only to be sent off in the 2-0 loss at Tatnam where the floodlights also failed for 40 minutes.

A 4-1 home reverse against Chesham followed in February before, off the field, the club’s board announced a settlement on the dispute concerning the land surrounding the Bob Lucas Stadium with developers Wessex Delivery LLP.

In a statement from the club, director Alan Pepperell said: “We have secured a totally different set of agreements with WDLLP. We are now looking forward to working closely together to develop a new sporting facility and home for the club.

“We now move onto the next challenge, to secure a site for the new stadium and sports facility.”

Chairman Chris Pugsley also called for supporters to get behind the search for a new ground, ironically after the home game against Cirencester Town had to be postponed due to safety concerns involving the main stand at the Bob Lucas Stadium.

Squad-wise, winger Adam Kelly departed to join Salisbury.

Back on the field in March, Matthews’ men got their hopes of making the play-offs back on track with a 2-0 home win against Redditch United.

The club were not afraid to wield the axe on their squad however, ending the contract of player-coach Chris McPhee by mutual consent.

Arguably a pivotal point in the Terras’ season then came at the end of the month as they were beaten 1-0 at Hitchin with Dean Evans sent off, before Poole Town got the better of them again – this time Marvin Brooks headed home the winner in a 1-0 home defeat.

Matthews admitted at that point that his side had a “mountain to climb” to book their place in the top five at the end of the campaign but they did not give it up – setting up a final-day showdown needing results to go their way elsewhere as they faced Chesham United on the last day of the season in April.

Earlier that month, a Tim Sills double ensured Weymouth retained the Dorset Senior Cup with a 2-1 win over Gillingham Town at the Avenue.

Chris Shephard committed his future to the club for the following season, while Pugsley revealed: “I don’t want to be chairman of this football club because it takes up too much of my time and it’s destroying my personal life.”

The Chesham challenge proved too much for the Terras on the final day of the campaign as they ended with a 1-0 loss and Matthews was left to ponder a seventh-place finish for a second successive season.

With the campaign over, changes to the club’s playing personnel began.

Experienced centre-half Pat Baldwin announced his retirement after a year with the Terras before, in May, George Rigg, Matthews’ first ever signing in the job, announced he would be leaving the club to join Bath City.

Defender Calvin Brooks did agree a new one-year deal to remain part of the set-up at the Bob Lucas Stadium however, Evans also agreed to stay at the club.

Later in the month, Matthews retained the services of Billy Lowes, Ashley Wells, Jordan Copp, Thomson and Mark Cooper.

After Jake Wannell also agreed to stay, the Terras’ boss captured the services of striker Sam Jordan from Bradford Town, who came with a huge reputation of scoring at Western League level.

Then, just days after Jordan joined, the Terras announced a deal that would shock Ridgeway rivals Dorchester Town.

Midfielder Charlie Davis made the switch from the Avenue to Weymouth. Commenting on that signing, Matthews said: “It would have been silly of me not to follow it up with the season he had last year.”

The club’s reserve team also had their promotion to the Wessex League ratified to round off a successful month of preparation for the new season.

Jordan and Davis both picked up ankle injuries in Weymouth’s first pre-season friendly at home to Exeter in July, the former’s groundwork for the start of the season was scuppered, but new signings were made after a handful of players impressed as trialists.

In came keeper Dan Thomas and wingers Aaron Rodriguez and Dan Smith on non-contract terms, while Mark Molesley continued to impress since stepping up to a player-coach role.

With the season kicking off and Jordan bagging two goals off the bench at Biggleswade in a 3-1 win for the Terras in August, an update on the club’s stadium situation was given by the board, stating: “We are now in discussion with landowners over two possible sites.”

Chairman Pugsley also stressed he was happy to continue in the role, admitting “It would have been difficult to let go”.

A big addition was also made to the playing squad at the end of August, with former Cherries’ defender Stephane Zubar joining in time to feature against Dorchester Town in a 2-1 derby win. Lowes and Davis, against his old club, took the headlines with the goals.

A 5-0 win at Stratford proved the highlight in the league for September, while Weymouth progressed in the FA Cup with wins over Paulton Rovers and Gosport Borough.

Brimscombe & Thrupp’s fairy tale run in the competition was also ended by the Terras on the first day of October, before Matthews’ men were eventually humbled as they collapsed in a 6-0 defeat at Kidderminster Harriers in the fourth qualifying round.

Away from cup competitions, with their league form faltering, Weymouth brought in loan pair Stuart Fleetwood and Bradley Tarbuck.

Striker Jordan scored a hat-trick for the club in a Dorset Senior Cup tie against Verwood Town before being sent out on dual registration to Melksham.

A poor defeat to Merthyr Town came the same day as Jordan scored for his loan club.

Cup competitions proved to be a tonic for the club, as the Terras sealed a 4-1 win at Dunstable Town. Thomson and Stewart Yetton netted twice to set up a tie with Poole in the next round.

Fleetwood, who had his loan deal extended, was then allowed to feature against the Dolphins and, having forced a replay, Weymouth got the better of their higher-level opposition to progress to the first round proper of the national tournament.

But, having bowed out of the competition against Whitehawk after a home replay in December, the spotlight was then fully on the club’s dismal league showing.

Four draws on the spin in December did not help their cause with fans venting their frustration at Matthews, who denied any wrongdoing during a post-match altercation during Boxing Day’s Ridgeway derby at Dorchester, in which his side drew 1-1.

Smith was also released by the club this month with another goalkeeper, Tom McHale coming in on a two-month loan deal from Truro.

Matthews has a lot of work to do in the new year to salvage the club’s league campaign – at the moment, it looks like a miraculous effort is needed to reach the play-offs, which Matthews initially set out to do.