WEYMOUTH 1
Rose 90+8
CHESTERFIELD 1
Whittle 71
AHKEEM Rose scored in the 98th minute to earn Weymouth what could be a vital point against title-chasing Chesterfield at the Bob Lucas Stadium.
Weymouth had trailed through Alex Whittle’s fine low strike but sub Rose scored from 12 yards to send the home fans into delirium.
Twelve minutes had been added after Chesterfield’s leading scorer Kabongo Tshimanga sustained a serious leg injury in a tackle with Haji Mnoga.
Although this was a hugely positive result for Weymouth, the Terras are now winless in 13 league games.
READ MORE: Weymouth 1-1 Chesterfield - how it happened
Weymouth boss David Oldfield made three changes to the side that began the 3-0 loss at King's Lynn.
New loanee signings Harvey Bunker and Dan Smith came in for their debuts, along with Omar Mussa.
Bunker has been signed on a month’s loan from Forest Green, while Smith has been drafted in from Eastleigh.
Making way for the trio were skipper Josh McQuoid and Manasse Mampala, who were benched, while Tom Solanke had no place in the matchday squad.
There were no other changes on the bench aside from the dropped duo.
Chesterfield made two alterations with Calvin Miller and Jim Kellermann coming into the side for new boss Paul Cook’s first game in charge.
Weymouth were looking to end a 12-game winless streak in the league and the early signs were ominous as keeper Ross Fitzsimons made numerous outstanding saves.
Chesterfield’s first menacing attack carved Weymouth’s defence open as Liam Mandeville orchestrated an intricate move.
He then ran onto a clever pass from Akwasi Asante before firing powerfully at goal from close range, Fitzsimons flying to his left to make a magnificent save.
At the other end, Smith forced Spireites keeper Scott Loach into a low save at his near post and there was a brief moment of alarm as Aaron Drewe charged down Jamie Grimes’ clearance, only for Loach to mop up.
Fitzsimons was called upon to make an agile double save in the 12th minute as Asante’s piercing low ball to Kellermann put the visitors in.
His low shot was parried by Fitzsimons only as far as top scorer Tshimanga, who was denied by a sprightly block from Weymouth’s keeper.
Weymouth were lucky not to concede a corner when Fitzsimons’ fingertip save from Asante went unnoticed by the officials and Weymouth grew into the game thereafter.
The Terras won six corners in the first half but failed to make the most of their pressure.
Bunker worked Loach with a bobbling shot and Mussa then saw a shot repelled by the outstanding Grimes, who marshalled Chesterfield’s defence superbly.
Tom Bearwish sent a volley wide and Weymouth saw a three-on-three evaporate when Mussa dallied after making a good tackle in midfield.
No changes were made at the break but Chesterfield were forced into a first sub when Emmanuel Oyeleke went down in the 58th minute, replaced by Curtis Weston.
Weymouth had only one corner to deal with before Oyeleke went off in what was a sedate start to the second 45.
Weymouth ensured that lull was ended when Mussa broke upfield and offloaded to Shields who curled just over the far angle.
But Chesterfield, who had not threatened Fitzsimons since midway through the first half, then suddenly took the lead from an innocuous situation.
With Whittle played into the box on the left, there seemed little danger of a goal but the wide man squeezed his shot in off the post and Fitzsimons’ glove to send a vociferous away support into raptures.
Weymouth felt they should have had a penalty when Cameron Murray was felled in the box but then a serious injury to Tshimanga caused distress among the players and supporters.
It came when Haji Mnoga’s heavy, but fair, tackle boomed the ball into the stands.
Seconds went by before the severity of Tshimanga’s injury was noticed, sub Tom Blair bellowing at the paramedics to tend to the stricken striker.
Chesterfield’s physio gave the dreaded ‘X’ signal, indicating a broken bone to the forward’s lower limb.
His injury created 12 minutes of added time, halfway through which Rose appeared to be fouled in the box as referee Greg Rollason waved play on again.
But Rose, who was booked for his protests, had the last laugh when Mussa picked out sub Brandon Goodship on the left.
His inch-perfect ball back inside found Rose in acres of space and, although his shot was blocked, he tucked away the rebound with aplomb to send the home faithful wild.
Chesterfield still had four minutes to find a winner but the closest they came was Fraser Kerr’s weak header as Weymouth earned an impressive and precious point.
Terras: Fitzsimons, Cordner, Mussa, Mnoga, Bearwish (Blair 76), Drewe, Bunker (Rose 73), Murray, Harfield, Smith (Goodship 90+2), Shields. Subs not used: McQuoid, Mampala.
Chesterfield: Loach, Miller (Khan 68), Kerr, Grimes, Whittle, Kellermann, McCourt, Oyeleke (Weston 58), Mandeville, Tshimanga (Quigley 87), Asante. Subs not used: Williams, Rowley.
Referee: Greg Rollason
Attendance: 1,299
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel