OPPORTUNITY MISSED: Michael Malcolm fires in a shot despite the attentions of Oxford United's Matt Day
WEYMOUTH boss John Hollins was in no mood to waste words after Saturday's 1-0 loss against Oxford United.
The frustrated manager's message to his players was simple: we must start taking our chances.'
The Terras dominated the first hour of the encounter but were unable to turn their superiority into goals and were duly punished when Phil Trainer headed in for the visitors with 15 minutes remaining.
The defeat has plunged Hollins' men back into the relegation zone in the Blue Square Premier and they now face a massive game against Grays Athletic tomorrow night where nothing less than three points will do.
"We could have been three up," said Hollins. "We created a lot of chances but did not take them and at the end we could have lost by three.
"You start asking yourself is the personnel right to put the ball in the net? But at this stage we cannot do anything about that. We have to keep persisting with it and keep creating chances in the hope that someone will start finishing them.
"When that does happen someone is going to be on the end of a thrashing but if we continue to not be cool and calm in front of goal then we are always going to struggle to score."
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Stuart Beavon and Michael Malcolm led the line for the Terras and Hollins reckons the time has come for his strikers to deliver.
He added: "Stuart is working extremely hard but he has not scored since the Ebbsfleet United game which was my second in charge. Why is that?
"Michael has got a couple but he keeps wanting to beat two or three players all the time. We need to shoot more and start getting on the end of rebounds.
"Stuart and Michael are both strikers and scoring goals is their business. Michael did have a great chance in the second half when he turned inside the box and had a clear sight of goal. What he did then I do not know."
Hollins was also disappointed with the goal his side conceded.
He said: "It was very disappointing because someone should have been there to clear it.
"But that is what happens when you dominate for long periods and do not take your chances. The longer it stays 0-0 it gives the opposing team the encouragement to come forward and like I said at the end they could have had a couple more."
On-loan keeper Stephen Henderson did not have the best of games but Hollins was quick to jump to the defence of the Bristol City loanee.
He said: "Stephen did make a couple of mistakes but he rectified them quickly. The one he tipped on to the post in the second half was a great save and I am certainly not blaming him at all because it's a team thing.
"I can shout, scream and do what I want but at the end of the day people have got to take responsibility on the pitch."
Altrincham are the team directly above the Terras. The Cheshire side drew 1-1 at Kidderminster Harriers and lead Hollins' side by a point although they have played two games more.
Fellow strugglers Northwich Victoria and Farsley Celtic both won while Halifax Town gained a point against Forest Green Rovers.
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