Weymouth 0-2 Dover Athletic: Whites steal points late on

DOVER ATHLETIC 2

Brundle 77, Wanadio 80

WEYMOUTH’S dismal league form continued with a pedestrian 2-0 loss to Dover Athletic in the Vanarama National League South.

In a match low on quality, chances were rare until late on as Dover scored twice in three minutes.

Mitch Brundle fired home through a crowded box to open the scoring in the 77th minute before Luke Wanadio’s fine solo run and shot on the break killed Weymouth off.

The result means Weymouth remain bottom and are still searching for a first league win of the season.

READ MORE: Weymouth 0-2 Dover Athletic - how it happened

Weymouth manager Bobby Wilkinson made two changes to the side that began last week's 3-1 win at Winchester in the FA Cup.

Teddy Howe, a new signing who played for Barnet last season, grabbed his first start while Noa Boutin was also recalled to the starting XI.

Bobby Wilkinson's first home game for Weymouth ended in defeat Picture: MARK PROBIN (Image: MARK PROBIN)

Centre-half Ibrahim Bakare has left the Terras, while there was no place in the squad for Jack Seddon.

Harry Kyprianou, despite scoring last week, dropped to the bench for Howe’s inclusion, while Wilkinson opted for Luke Nippard, Cameron Murray and Dan Gifford alongside Kyprianou as substitutes.

There was also a place for winger Claudio Ofosu, who came back into the matchday squad.

Claudio Ofosu played his first game in the Bobby Wilkinson era Picture:MARK PROBIN (Image: MARK PROBIN)

Meanwhile, Weymouth announced pre-match that goalkeeper Harrison Bruton had been dual-registered with Wessex League side AFC Stoneham, leaving the Terras with no recognised keeper on the bench.

Weymouth were searching for their first victory of the league season at the ninth attempt but never truly got going in a pedestrian opening half.

There was minor alarm for the hosts in the second minute when Dover’s Alfie Pavey saw a header cleared off the line, although his effort would not have counted as the linesman’s flag went up.

It took ten minutes for Weymouth to have their first shy at goal, Brad Ash stabbing wide after an incisive pass from Xander McBurnie, whose brother Oli was in attendance with club side Sheffield United inactive during the international break.

Sheffield United striker Oli McBurnie, left, came to support brother Xander Picture:MARK PROBIN (Image: MARK PROBIN)

Ahkeem Rose then tried a speculative overhead kick that fell gently into the palms of Dover keeper Stuart Nelson.

Dover themselves lacked bite in the first half but did respond through Tyrone Sterling’s near-post header, the centre-back guiding his effort over the angle of post and bar.

Tom Bearwish also fired out of the ground with a half-volley on the turn and the action was further diluted when Dover’s Jake Goodman went down with a nose injury.

Following a five-minute break the clearly groggy defender was somehow allowed to continue, slicing a ball into touch before being forced to trudge off with tissue stuffed up his nose.

In the seven added minutes, Rose came closest to opening the scoring as his poke had Nelson scrambling before the keeper got across to save.

Ahkeem Rose went close with two efforts for Weymouth Picture:MARK PROBIN (Image: MARK PROBIN)

Attempting to waken Weymouth from their malaise, Wilkinson opted for two changes at the break as McBurnie and Rose were hooked for Murray and Ofosu.

Weymouth did seem livelier as Blair tested Nelson with a long-distance drive but the Terras looked nervy in defence as Dan Matsuzaka poked out for a corner and Nathan Carlyle was forced to head clear.

It was then Blair’s turn to receive treatment for a nosebleed, caused by Sterling’s clearance thumping into his face.

Blair came back on after a change of shirt and he was involved after Bearwish controlled a fierce low shot from Boutin before offloading to his fellow ex-Eastleigh man, who could only blast over.

Tom Blair was one of the few Weymouth players to shoot at goal against Dover Picture:MARK PROBIN (Image: MARK PROBIN)

Boutin was replaced by Kyprianou in Weymouth’s final change but it was Dover who finished with the desired quality to clinch the three points.

After winning a corner, Weymouth could not clear and Brundle slammed home via a deflection.

And Dover’s victory was completed when Weymouth were caught upfield with nine players at a corner.

Wanadio raided forward on the right as Dover enjoyed a two-on-one, with Howe getting back to defend.

However, Wanadio turned him inside out before rifling a superb finish – out of keeping with the game – past Ryan Sandford in the Weymouth goal.

Weymouth had a late chance for Murray but the midfielder slammed it well over from 20 yards as the Terras once more whimpered to a poor defeat at home.

Terras: Sandford, Howe, Boutin (Kyprianou 72), Carlyle, Matsuzaka, McBurnie (Murray 46), Bearwish, Blair, O'Connell, Rose (Ofosu 46), Ash. Subs not used: Nippard, Gifford.

Dover: Nelson, Judd, Paxman, Goodman (Krasniqi 45+2), Brundle, Higgs, Pavey, Wanadio (Baptiste 85), Martin, Sterling, Grant (Kandi 72). Subs not used: Wilkinson, Carney.

Referee: Ruebyn Ricardo

Attendance: 828