Weymouth 1-0 Braintree Town: Dan Matsuzaka prods home winner

Matsuzaka 82

BRAINTREE TOWN 0

WEYMOUTH ended a barren home run in the league as Dan Matsuzaka’s maiden Terras goal gave his side a much-needed 1-0 win over Braintree Town.

Braintree’s Kyron Farrell hit the post in the only flashpoint of a quiet first half, before play improved in the second.

Weymouth had the better moments up to when Matsuzaka stabbed home a corner in the 82nd minute, ending a record-equalling 15-game winless run in the league at the Bob Lucas Stadium for Weymouth.

His goal will prove the perfect tonic for Weymouth going into their FA Cup replay at AFC Wimbledon on Tuesday.

READ MORE: Weymouth 1-0 Braintree Town - how it happened

Weymouth manager Bobby Wilkinson made four changes to the side that began the 3-2 loss at St Albans City in midweek.

Ben Gerring, who exited the club less than 24 hours after that game, and the injured Teddy Howe missed out.

Ed James was benched and the ill Brendan Willson took no place in the squad, so in came Matsuzaka, Nathan Carlyle, Tom Blair and Ahkeem Rose.

On the bench, Weymouth brought in Tyler Forbes and the returning Luke Nippard with Josh Oyinsan, Hari McCoy and James retaining their places in the squad.

Weymouth loanee centre-back Ed James (Image: MARK PROBIN)

Weymouth were in desperate need of a home win, having not won at the Bob Lucas in the league since mid-February, but Braintree started marginally the better side.

Tom Blair did aim a cross into the box inside 20 seconds but Braintree had the first attempt at goal as Baris Altintop headed wide at the far post four minutes in.

Neither side could gain any fluency as Brad Ash rolled the ball home in the 17th minute, well after the whistle had gone for offside.

Ash managed to get on the end of a Blair cross two minutes later, only kneeing behind under duress from the covering defence.

Brad Ash had a couple of half-chances (Image: MARK PROBIN)

Braintree responded by seizing on slack defending by Weymouth for the best moment of the match to date, Kyron Farrell slamming a shot against the far post and Jon Benton’s follow-up deflecting over.

Weymouth successfully cleared the two corners that followed in the Braintree attack and in a luke-warm first half, there was no shot on target until the 40th minute.

It came when Rose scuffed his 25-yarder into the grateful hands of Iron keeper Jack Sims.

Weymouth showed more intent in the second half as Ash glanced a Blair cross wide but Matsuzaka was lucky to see Matthew Rush blast wide after the Weymouth defender allowed a long ball to drop, in similar fashion to his error against AFC Wimbledon.

Bearwish did well to block a Jon Benton chance on the counter before Willie Clemons headed over as the visitors enjoyed their biggest spell of pressure of the game.

Wilkinson made his first change with Cam Murray coming off for Nippard, and the Terras responded by nearly taking the lead.

O’Connell charged down the left, found Kyprianou on the overlap and the left-back’s low cross picked out Rose whose goalbound shot was superbly blocked by Jack Cawley.

Ash headed another half-chance over before Rose made way for Oyinsan, possibly with Tuesday’s FA Cup replay in mind.

Oyinsan had an instant impact, driving at Sims from 25 yards after more good work from Bearwish to win the ball back.

And Oyinsan was involved in the build-up to the goal as he spread play to Blair on the near touchline.

Blair’s ball to O’Connell in space was just behind the winger but Kyprianou picked up possession and his fierce shot at goal took a deflection behind for a corner.

Braintree were all at sea when the ball came in and Matsuzaka was perfectly placed to stab home into the roof of the net six yards out for a crucial first Weymouth goal of his career.

Dan Matsuzaka, right, celebrates his first Weymouth goal (Image: MARK PROBIN)

Weymouth suddenly sensed blood and Blair forced Sims into a sharp save 60 seconds later.

Braintree, chasing an equaliser they perhaps would not have deserved in a low-quality game, came forward in five minutes of stoppage-time.

Zaki Oualah was forced into his first save of the match, tipping clear from sub Alfie Matthews and Clemons lashed well wide in the 94th minute.

Weymouth then came close to a second when Oyinsan charged down Sims, the ball spinning clear of the near post.

Wilkinson switched O’Connell for Forbes, sparking a scuffle as Braintree shoved O’Connell to make way in faster time, but Weymouth kept their nerve as tempers frayed to book their first league win of the season.

Bobby Wilkinson, left, congratulates match-winner Dan Matsuzaka (Image: MARK PROBIN)

Terras: Oualah, Bearwish, Matsuzaka, Carlyle, Kyprianou, McBurnie, Blair, O'Connell (Forbes 90+7), Ash, Murray (Nippard 56), Rose (Oyinsan 71). Subs not used: McCoy, James.

Braintree: Sims, Clemons, Farrell (Davies 67) Altintop, White, Cawley, Benton (Matthews 67), Payne, Reynolds (Amantchi 54), Muscatt, Rush. Subs not used: Clements, Boachie.

Referee: Daniel Lamport

Attendance: 691