Double strike? (From Dorset Echo)

Double strike?

8:56am Monday 27th July 2009 in Club News By Adam Summers

WEYMOUTH manager Matty Hale is hoping to lure ex-Team Bath strikers Tom Piotrowski and Joe Arnold to the Wessex Stadium.

Last week the Terras secured the signing of another former Team Bath forward, Matt Cooper, and negotiated a three-month loan deal with Portsmouth hitman Ryan Gazet Du Chattelier but Hale is clearly keen to strengthen his strike force even further.

He said: “Tom has been on trial at Newport County but I am hoping we can get him down here this week so we can have a look at him, either against Exeter City on Wednesday or at Paulton Rovers on Friday.

“There is also another lad called Joe Arnold, who has been on trial at Hereford United, that we want to bring down here as well.

“Joe and Tom are both players that I would look to sign as they would be ideal players to play off either Ryan or Matt Cooper.

“That would give us four quality strikers and with perhaps a couple of young lads as well, we would have good strength and depth in that area, but we will just have to see how things pan out.”

Two other forwards Hale is keeping tabs on is Team Bath Under-18s’ starlet Tyler Sibbick and Daniel Bennett, who both scored in Saturday’s 5-2 win at Portland United.

Bennett was a finalist in the Sky One series Football Icon 1 in 2005 where young players were given the opportunity to win a contract with Premier League giants Chelsea and Hale was impressed with his and Sibbick’s performance at Grove Corner.

He added: “That was the first time that I have seen Danny play and he looked quick and sharp.

“I will certainly try and look at him again along with Tyler, who is one for the future.

“I am working with Tyler every day at Team Bath, he has only just turned 17, and in a year or two when he gets a bit stronger I am sure he could become an asset for us, so he is one we will be looking to develop.”

Another trialist that impressed against the Blues was Phil Harpnutt.

Hale said: “I have not seen enough of Phil. He played against Bridport but then went on holiday so I might have to have another look at him.

“He did well against Portland. He played at right-back and overlapped well, and did exactly what we asked of him.

“Over the next three games we want to get the squad together, so we will not be seeing so many trialists now, although in the case of Danny and Phil, they may well feature.”

Ex-Cheltenham Town winger Aaron Ledgister has been released following the capture of Carl Preston.

Hale added: “Due to money it was a case of one or the other and we have decided to go with Carl, who has already agreed terms.”

Sibbick gave the Terras the lead at Portland on 35 minutes when he nodded home a fine cross from Jordan Metters.

Alex Halloran then levelled from an acute angle after rounding visiting keeper Simon Evans just prior to the break but Weymouth soon regained their lead in the second half when Bennett took advantage of a poor clearance by Lloyd Cranny on 56 minutes.

However, the Blues refused to yield and just nine minutes later Matt White sent an outstanding half volley into the top right corner from 35 yards to restore parity once again.

Both teams made several changes throughout the second period but in the closing stages it was Weymouth that took command with assistant-manager Ian Hutchinson firing home from 22 yards to make it 3-2 with just 10 minutes remaining.

Jamie Frampton then increased the lead with a superb header from Kyle Critchell’s free-kick two minutes later before Harpnutt completed the scoring on 86 minutes.

Portland boss Stuart Heath said: “We made a lot of changes in the second half and I think our inexperience and their higher levels of fitness showed in the end.

“This was only our first pre-season friendly and for 70 minutes I thought we performed very well.

“Despite all the new faces we gelled quickly and now we must look to build on that performance.

“At this stage of pre-season it is all about getting minutes under our belts and we are now looking forward to Tuesday’s home game against Bridport (7pm) and Saturday’s trip to Larkhall Athletic.”

Blues: Carroll, Sc Walker (St Walker 46), Cranny (Charles 56), Perkins, Conning, Borthwick (Ellis 56), Halloran, Biles (Flann 56), Price (White 56), Whyton, Lane (McKay 46).

Terras: Evans (Clarke 86), Frampton, Loader, Gwinnett (Harpnutt 46), Lamb, Reiffer (Critchell 46), Metters, Richardson (McKech-nie 50), Tribe, Mutch (Bennett 46), Sibbick (Hutchinson 70).