WEYMOUTH boss Brian Stock paid tribute to Bridgwater United after the Robins gave the Terras a big scare in their 5-2 pre-season friendly win at Fairfax Park.

Deflected goals from Jack Taylor and Tom Llewellyn put the Western League Premier side – four divisions below Weymouth – into a 2-0 lead with just 17 minutes played.

Weymouth steadied themselves as the half wore on and halved the deficit going into half-time when Brandon Goodship scored his first goal since returning to the club.

He doubled his tally after the break and a hat-trick in 27 minutes for sub Brad Ash sealed a strong comeback in hot conditions.

Speaking to Echosport, Stock said: “Sometimes when you come to these sorts of clubs – and without sounding disrespectful given where they are in league status – you sometimes think you can turn up and win a game of football.

“I was actually pleasantly surprised with the attitude of Bridgwater, they’ve got a really good side and fitness wise they ran until the last minute and gave us a good test.

READ MORE: Bridgwater United 2-5 Weymouth - match report

“It made me want to concentrate on our mentality and attitude because I felt that the first half we took them too lightly.

“Frustration kicked in, especially when they went 1-0 up and there was a mistake for the second goal.

“One or two players were getting frustrated with the dry pitch, opposition and the ball going underneath their foot – things like that.

“It was an opportunity for me to unite the group and make them understand that there’s going to be times this year where this is going to happen.

“It’s important we remain focused. If there are mistakes, we have to A: rectify them but B: not let them affect the next decision. There was a catalogue of errors in terms of that.”

However, the Terras’ boss heaped praise on Ash, the striker having scored five goals in two games.

Stock said: “His all-round game since he came to the club – whether in training or games – has been excellent.

“He could probably have had four or five if it wasn’t for some good defending.

“His timing on arrival for crosses has been excellent so far and he’s got five goals in two games. You can’t ask for much more than that.”

On Goodship, Stock added: “What I like about Brandon is that we can also play him on the left-hand side. That might be an option that we might have to utilise at some point this year.

“He can play 10, nine or wide. When you look at his second goal he’s done exactly that on the left and curled a beautiful shot in.

“We’ve put a few more minutes in to him and the pleasing thing is that Brandon and the squad have come away unscathed – there’s a lot of positives.”