Weymouth 2-2 Bromley: Terras earn point against Ravens

Bearwish 34, Murray 72

BROMLEY 2

Parsons 54, Cheek 75

WEYMOUTH were twice pegged back by Bromley in an entertaining 2-2 draw at the Bob Lucas Stadium.

The Terras weathered heavy pressure thanks to the outstanding Ross Fitzsimons before Tom Bearwish headed the hosts in front from Brandon Goodship’s clever cross.

Connor Parsons equalised for Bromley before a defensive mix-up enabled Weymouth to take the lead, Scott Wagstaff diverting a cross towards his own goal before Cameron Murray made sure.

Bromley levelled again through top scorer Michael Cheek but the sides had to settle for a point to sustain their battles at opposite ends of the Vanarama National League table.

READ MORE: Weymouth 2-2 Bromley - how it happened

Weymouth boss David Oldfield made two changes to the side that began the 1-0 win over Eastleigh in the Terras' last outing.

Tom Bearwish and Dan Smith came in for Omar Mussa, who was benched, and Ahkeem Rose, the forward omitted from the squad.

Mussa was the sole addition to the dugout, taking his place at the expense of striker Jordan Greenidge.

In the previous meeting between the sides at the Bob Lucas Stadium, there were three red cards as Weymouth won 2-1.

Andy Dallas scored twice in the opening seven minutes on that occasion but the tables were turned this time as Bromley began at breakneck speed.

The Ravens were electric from the off, Corey Whitely driving low to home keeper Ross Fitzsimons’ left in the very first minute, forcing a superb diving save.

Ross Fitzsimons, centre right, was easily Weymouth's man of the match Picture: MARK PROBIN

Louis Dennis nearly scored from the rebound and cross before leading scorer Cheek flashed a shot across the face of goal.

Weymouth managed a first shot on target in the seventh minute through Murray but his chance merely punctuated a tide of Bromley pressure.

Weymouth’s shaky start in defence continued as Harvey Bunker and then Murray were caught in possession, allowing Wagstaff to race into the area, only for Fitzsimons to come to the Terras’ rescue again.

Fitzsimons caught a Dennis lob and produced another fingertip save to deny the pacy Connor Parsons, who was later refused a penalty when he went down under the attentions of Haji Mnoga.

Weymouth responded when Brandon Goodship tested away keeper Mark Cousins with a low effort but back came Bromley.

Whitely worked Fitzsimons, Luke Coulson rippled the side netting and Parsons rattled the post after good work from Dennis.

For all their pressure, Bromley should have gone 1-0 down when Sean Shields won and took a corner, delivering right onto the head of Smith who boomed a header against the post from six yards.

Fitzsimons was called upon again to block Cheek’s six-yard header with his legs before Weymouth made the Ravens pay for their profligacy.

The Terras produced a goal of genuine quality, Goodship’s sharp turn and cross to the back post catching Bromley unawares before the unmarked Bearwish headed back across Cousins for 1-0.

Tom Bearwish scored the opening goal with a deft header Picture: MARK PROBIN

Cousins denied Goodship’s crisp shot in the 37th minute and Bunker then pummelled a shot at the away custodian, who parried clear.

The opening exchanges of the second half were less frenetic but Bromley were finally able to score nine minutes in.

Bunker gave away a free-kick for a foul on Wagstaff and the diagonal ball picked out Parsons who engineered space near the byline to dart into the area and hammer past Fitzsimons at his near post.

Bromley immediately made their first change, bringing on George Alexander for Dennis, but it was Weymouth who had the next big chance.

Goodship’s flick-on caught out the visiting defence, allowing Bearwish to storm through.

With all kinds of time, the ex-Eastleigh and Dorchester man rushed his shot and curled well wide.

But Weymouth were 2-1 up soon afterwards when Wagstaff got his legs in a tangle and diverted a low cross past Cousins for what was almost an own goal, Murray making sure with the finish.

Cameron Murray, left, is congratulated after scoring for Weymouth Picture: MARK PROBIN

However, Bromley were behind for just three minutes as Cheek notched his 16th goal of the season from close range after scything through the Weymouth defence.

Weymouth replied by introducing skipper Josh McQuoid and Mannie Mampala for Goodship and Smith respectively, either side of Ollie Harfield clearing off the line.

Both sides pushed for a winner as Fitzsimons did well to push clear sub Joe Partington’s volley before Blair’s low cross just evaded the touch of McQuoid.

Fittingly, Fitzsimons repelled a late Bromley attack when Sowunmi’s downward header looked likely to creep into the far corner, only for the keeper’s diving save to keep it out and preserve a good point for the Terras.

Terras: Fitzsimons, Cordner, Goodship (McQuoid 79), Mnoga, Bearwish (Blair 68), Bunker, Drewe, Murray, Harfield, Smith (Mampala 76), Shields. Subs not used: Mussa, Ash.

Bromley: Cousins, Bush, Sowunmi, Coulson, Cheek, Dennis (Alexander 57, Bloomfield 90+1), Longstaff, Trotter, Webster, Whitely, Parsons (Partington 71). Subs not used: Arthurs, Alabi.

Referee: Savvas Yianni

Attendance: 1,003