WEYMOUTH 2

Goodship 11, C Brooks 58

POOLE TOWN 2

Smeeton 17, Scrimshaw 71

WEYMOUTH missed an opportunity to close on Taunton at the top of the table after twice being pegged back by Poole Town to draw 2-2 in the Evo-Stik Southern Premier South.

Goals from Brandon Goodship and Calvin Brooks twice handed Weymouth the lead before Jake Smeeton and Jake Scrimshaw goals.

Taunton’s 3-1 loss at Merthyr Town meant Weymouth only gained a point on Taunton as despite good chances, the hosts could not craft a final goal.

Calvin Brooks came in for Ashley Wells, and Tiago Sa replaced Jordan Ngalo, who was absent from the squad entirely.

The only other change saw Goodship return from illness to start in place of Yemi Odubade.

The first shot rolled in from Poole’s Adam Grange, but it was easily wide of the Weymouth post, and goalkeeper Lloyd Thomas had it covered.

Poole had the better of the opening stages, but would pay the price for not closing down Goodship in the 11th minute.

Goodship had time and space just outside the box and was able to send a well-placed shot beyond the diving reach of Poole goalkeeper Luke Cairney.

Cairney was then called into action to keep it 1-0 with a superb stop.

Brooks did well to even get a cross away, but Ben Thomson was there to meet it and loop a headed effort seemingly into the net, until Cairney was able to tip it over the bar.

Yet the Dolphins would make their way back into the match, backed by a vocal group of fans.

William Spetch whipped in a free-kick from 30 yards that was well saved by Thomas, but he could do nothing about Smeeton firing in the rebound.

Thomas was again required a moment later when he did brilliantly to save when Luke Roberts was through on goal, and was able to collect to snuff out the danger.

Up against his old side, Abdulai Baggie almost crafted a second lead for Weymouth but his shot from just outside the corner of the box was whipped wide of the far post.

Weymouth were gradually getting back on top at this point but Poole were firing warning shots.

Firstly, Sam Griffin went on a brilliant run down the left, but his superb cross into the box was not met by anyone.

A cross into the box was then too far ahead of James Constable.

Brooks went into the book for a tackle on Grange, a challenge which enraged the Dolphins’ management team.

But Weymouth nearly retook the lead through a counter attack.

Goodship lofted a ball up to Baggie from inside his own box, who collected and put a ball up to Brooks, who went over in a collision with Jack Dickson.

The half ended on a bizarre note with Spetch and Thomson both yellow carded after grappling off the ball.

However, the second half lived up to its billing.

Luke Roberts enjoyed a solid start to the half for Poole, finding himself in space inside the box but being tackled before firing a shot, while an early cross was well-saved by Thomas.

Weymouth soon asserted themselves and almost took the lead when Goodship ran into space and played a great pass to Wakefield, whose shot was saved by the outstretched leg of Cairney.

The Terras initially fluffed their lines when Baggie’s pull-back found Goodship with Cairney stranded, but his shot was blocked away for a corner.

However, Weymouth then took the lead, as Brooks nodded in from a corner.

Spetch should have been sent off for a tackle not long after, for which the referee blew for a foul, but opted not to hand him a second yellow card.

From the free-kick Goodship rattled the crossbar but the ball bounced out for a goal-kick.

Baggie was enjoying a terrific performance against his old side and was behind much of Weymouth’s attacking threat.

Yet Poole were not done and quickly reasserted themselves.

Substitute Scrimshaw was able to nod in with only his second touch after Weymouth failed to clear two crosses from inside the box, the latter of which led to the goal.

Late chances from Thomson and Odubade should have seen the Terras end with victory but they could not find a goal.

Weymouth host Tiverton Town on Saturday (3pm).

Terras: Thomas, Brooks, Sa, Buckley, Sherring, McCarthy, Wakefield (Odubade 70), Carmichael, Thomson, Goodship (Baker 86), Baggie

Subs not used: Wells, Martin, Farrugia

Poole: Cairney, Alawode-Williams, Smeeton, Spetch, Leslie-Smith, Grange (Scrimshaw 65), Griffin, Moore, Constable, Dickson, Roberts.

Subs not used: Gillespie, O’Connor, House, Bedford.

Attendance: 1,270

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