Torquay United 3-0 Weymouth: Gulls inflict sixth straight loss on Terras

Wearne 12, Little 17 pen, Wright 46

WEYMOUTH 0

WEYMOUTH went down to a sixth straight Vanarama National League loss as Torquay claimed a simple 3-0 win at Plainmoor.

Torquay were 2-0 up having barely got out of first gear, Stephen Wearne converting a ball over the top before Armani Little netted a penalty, given against Ben Morgan.

And the victory was complete mere moments into the second half as Danny Wright headed home.

The loss keeps Weymouth nine points off safety after Aldershot were also beaten, losing 1-0 at Altrincham.

READ MORE: Torquay 3-0 Weymouth - how it happened

Prior to kick-off, the Terras made a double signing in defender Nathan Carlyle and striker Matt Buse.

Carlyle joins from QPR on loan until the end of the season, while Buse who was previously with Wealdstone this season has signed a short-term deal until the end of the campaign.

The duo were left out of the starting line-up but made the bench, joining Mannie Mampala, Tom Bearwish and the recalled Xander McBurnie.

Taofiq Olomowewe was also loaned back to Dulwich Hamlet and scored on his return to the National League South side in their 2-2 draw at Concord.

Weymouth manager David Oldfield made three changes to the team that began Tuesday's 2-0 loss at Woking.

New signing and birthday boy Ben Greenwood started, with Ollie Harfield out injured for around two weeks.

Brandon Goodship was recalled to the starting XI and Ben Thomson earned his first start under new boss Oldfield.

Weymouth had lost their previous five league games and started this encounter by pressing the self-destruct button.

The Terras had started brightly with a deflected Sean Shields shot and Brad Ash nearly picking out Goodship after penetrating the Torquay area.

But from there it went south rapidly for Weymouth, who were unhinged by a long ball down the left flank.

Wearne had just one touch to control and another to slam an effort into the bottom corner past the despairing Ross Fitzsimons dive on 12 minutes.

Stephen Wearne, left, put Torquay 1-0 up Picture: MARK PROBIN

Just five minutes later, the Gulls were 2-0 up when Tyler Cordner gave the ball away in the centre circle, allowing Little to bear down on goal.

He was challenged by Ben Morgan who slid in and tripped the Gulls’ skipper to concede a second penalty in two games, spanning 18 minutes.

Little dusted himself off and fired home through the grasp of Fitzsimons to double the hosts’ lead.

Armani Little, second right, scored from the spot to make it 2-0 Picture: MARK PROBIN

Ironically, Weymouth settled after going 2-0 down and there was a flurry of chances for either side in an entertaining first half.

Weymouth wanted a penalty of their own as a cross towards Ash appeared to hit a Torquay hand, although nothing was given.

Morgan blasted an ambitious shot off target before Weymouth’s best moment of the game, Cameron Murray setting Thomson on his way.

Bearing down on goal, the striker’s low drilled effort forced a good stop from home keeper Shaun MacDonald who conceded a corner which came to nothing.

Chances continued to flow at either end as Stephen Duke-McKenna span in the box before shooting wide.

Weymouth replied when Goodship picked out Murray, the midfielder running through one-on-one before MacDonald thwarted another good Terras chance.

Weymouth ended the half on top as Cordner whistled a shot just over from range before Thomson scared MacDonald again and Ash also tested the Gulls’ keeper’s handling prior to the interval.

However, the Terras were undone again a matter of seconds after the restart as Lemonheigh-Evans’ flick-on picked out Wright to head home at the back post.

Carlyle and Buse were handed debuts either side of minor chances for Torquay, Wright heading wide and Little firing over.

Weymouth did persevere and Ash won a corner with a deflected strike, Carlyle’s header then saved by MacDonald from the set-piece.

Some 145 Weymouth fans made the trip to Torquay Picture: MARK PROBIN

Greenwood was denied a birthday goal by another solid save from MacDonald and Oldfield was then tempted to withdraw Thomson for Bearwish in his final change.

Weymouth were restricted to minor chances thereafter as Bearwish saw a corner halted for a foul in the box.

Torquay meanwhile were happy to counter and a rapid break ended when Little’s inventive backheel was intercepted when better execution might have troubled the Terras.

Weymouth had one final chance for a consolation as Ash was played through but the striker’s shot travelled wide as the Terras’ poor afternoon was summed up in a nutshell.

Torquay: MacDonald, Wynter, Lapslie, Lemonheigh-Evans, Wright (Holman 77), Little, Wearne, Duke-McKenna (O’Connell 72), Moxey, Edwards (Martin 46), Lewis.

Subs not used: Halstead, Omar.

Terras: Fitzsimons, Greenwood, Morgan (Carlyle 51), Cordner, Goodship, Thomson (Bearwish 75), McQuoid, Ash, Drewe, Murray, Shields (Buse 59).

Subs not used: McBurnie, Mampala.

Referee: Aji Ajibola

Attendance: 2,538 (145 Weymouth fans).