WEALDSTONE 3
Browne 51, 75, Cook 54
WEYMOUTH 2
Ash 45+1, McQuoid 85
WEYMOUTH were punished for a slack second half as Wealdstone came from behind to record a 3-2 Vanarama National League victory at Grosvenor Vale.
The Terras enjoyed the better of the first half and were rewarded for long spells of pressure when Brad Ash curled home his fourth goal of the season.
But two goals in three minutes from Rhys Browne and Jack Cook almost immediately undid the Terras’ good work in the second half.
Browne capitalised on a mistake for 3-1 but Josh McQuoid’s late goal gave Weymouth hope.
David Oldfield’s men had two efforts blocked on the line and keeper Ross Fitzsimons went up for a 96th-minute corner but the Terras could not force an equaliser.
READ MORE: Wealdstone 3-2 Weymouth - how it happened
Before watching his side sacrifice a winning position for the fourth time in his 12 games in charge, manager Oldfield made five changes to the side that began the 5-0 loss at Altrincham on Tuesday.
Out went the injured Harvey Bunker (ankle) and Dan Smith (head), while attacking trio Tom Bearwish, Brandon Goodship and Tom Blair were dropped to the bench.
Replacing the quintet were the returning Sean Shields, while Ahkeem Rose bagged a start after playing the whole second half at Alty.
Omar Mussa regained his starting place after coming on for Bunker in the first half at Altrincham, while skipper McQuoid and joint-third top scorer Ash also got the nod.
Joining Goodship, Blair and Bearwish on the bench were goalkeeper Tommy Scott and striker Mannie Mampala.
Having conceded five at Altrincham, Weymouth looked a touch jittery in defence in the opening exchanges.
Their cause was not helped by the awarding of a corner when Ollie Harfield did not appear to get the final touch.
Although Tyler Cordner stabbed clear, Browne’s follow-up crunched against the bar and down towards the line with the Stones’ appeals for a goal waved away.
Weymouth settled after that moment and largely looked the better side for the remainder of the half.
Ash and Shields combined for an attack which culminated in Aaron Drewe’s deflected effort spinning behind for a corner which Cordner headed over.
Cordner was soon involved at the other end when he clipped Charles Claydon 20 yards out, Aaron Henry’s free-kick played across the face of goal beyond a teammate.
Weymouth continued to attack and a dangerous cross from Mussa to Rose was intercepted by the authoritative home keeper George Wickens.
The Terras tested the Stones with two more deliveries before Fitzsimons caught a Wealdstone corner with ease.
While there were few shots on target, Weymouth finished the half strongly when Rose tripped going through on goal.
He somehow kept his footing and fed Shields, only for the winger’s square ball to ricochet off his foot for a goal-kick.
Weymouth went close to an opener when Mussa earned a free-kick and Mnoga headed Shields’ cross weakly off target.
But the Terras did notch a deserved lead when Ash pounced on a mistake to clinically fire into the top-left corner for his first goal since mid-September.
Weymouth, in desperate need of a victory, could have been forgiven for shutting up shop.
Instead, they conceded two goals in three horrid minutes at the beginning of the second half.
Browne grabbed the equaliser from Jerome Okimo’s cross, controlling and firing past Fitzsimons.
And Weymouth’s keeper, for all his recent good form, then missed a cross which allowed Cook to hook home at the second attempt in the 54th minute as Wealdstone turned up the heat on the Terras.
Harfield, who had been outstanding up to then, limped off with an injury and was replaced by Bearwish.
Weymouth regrouped when McQuoid’s cross picked out Mnoga, his header forcing Wickens into an excellent save.
Oldfield’s men came forward again as Shields jinked his way into the area, crossing to the back post where Mussa was waiting to whistle a shot just wide.
Weymouth had to respond with a double change as Blair and Goodship replaced Rose and Ash – only for Wealdstone to add a third soon afterwards.
Cordner was culpable, his missed header allowing Okimo to volley at goal, Browne then diverting the ball past Fitzsimons for 3-1.
Fitzsimons denied Browne a hat-trick on 79 minutes following good work from Umerah but Weymouth were given a lifeline with five minutes remaining.
Goodship was the creator, finding space in the area to slot a simple square pass for McQuoid to tap home.
Weymouth were now raiding forward at will and Drewe fired a deflected shot just wide.
From the resulting corner, Drewe saw an effort blocked on the line and Bearwish’s rebound flicked off a defender for another corner which came to nothing.
Weymouth poured men forward in attack for the five added minutes as Cameron Murray jinked into the area and Drewe blasted over.
With time ticking beyond the allotted five extra minutes, Weymouth were given two last chances.
Goodship worked his way to the byline and earned a corner but Mussa’s effort was again nicked behind for a corner.
Fitzsimons went up for this one but Bearwish could only wildly lash over as Weymouth ran out of time, keeping them nine points off safety having played two more games than Aldershot.
Wealdstone: Wickens, Cook, Okimo, Ferguson, Umerah (Dyer 81), Browne, McAvoy, Clayden, Henry, Mundle-Smith, Cooper (Elito 74). Subs not used: Sesay, Jackson, Mascoll.
Terras: Fitzsimons, Cordner, Mussa, McQuoid, Ash (Blair 71), Mnoga, Drewe, Murray, Harfield (Bearwish 55), Rose (Goodship 71), Shields. Subs not used: Mampala, Scott.
Referee: Sunny Gil
Attendance: 1,003
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