WEYMOUTH 1 OXFORD CITY 0

WEYMOUTH continue to build momentum as they made it four league games unbeaten with what boss Brendon King described as a “workmanlike and professional” triumph over high-fliers Oxford City.

A solitary Stephen Reed strike was enough to settle this Evo-Stik Southern Premier Division contest in front of a decent home following boosted by a large contingent from Budmouth College, who were enjoying free entry as part of the club’s new Schools Initiative venture.

King summed up the performance by saying: “We’ve played better in the last few weeks and it wasn’t the best game in the world but it’s another step in the right direction.

“We were workmanlike and professional, and we limited a good side to very few chances.

“Our keeper hasn’t really been tested all night and it’s testament to the lads that they have come here and played with one up top and five across the middle.

“We’re nowhere near the finished article yet but we’re buzzing at the moment.” The hosts, buoyant following Satur-day’s FA Trophy triumph over Totton, were able to name a virtually unchanged line-up with just one enforced switch at goalkeeper.

Nick Jordan made a return between the sticks following his loan spell over the Ridgeway in place of the unavailable Tom Manley, while the only change on the bench saw young stopper Chris Povall replace Jordan.

The first real chance arrived on seven minutes when Sam Malsom found some space 20 yards from goal but his rising drive flew just over.

But then, just three minutes later, Reed went one better when his 25-yard free-kick took a slight deflection that was just enough to take it out of the reach of City keeper Jason Mooney to open the scoring.

Weymouth then enjoyed three decent opportunities to extend their lead midway the first period.

First, talisman Warren Byerley flicked in Craig Duff who looked poised to volley home only for Jack Ashton to nick the ball away at the vital moment, then Sam Poole shot straight at Mooney from a Reed corner before the latter fired over when well-placed seconds later.

At the other end, City were posing very few problems with centre-backs Ben Gerring and Poole snuffing out much of the danger before the visitors could get their shots off.

Indeed City failed to muster a single attempt on target in the opening 45 minutes and, bizarrely, the nearest they came to a breakthrough was in added time.

A horribly miscued shot from Ashton nearly set Steve Basham in but an alert Jordan was quickly off his line to smother as the hosts preserved their one-goal advant- age.

Just prior to that, Poole’s flicked header from Reed’s free-kick was comfortably collected by Mooney before Reed saw a further set-piece flash just over the far post and then, in their final attack of the half, Duff neatly chested down for Matt Groves who could only fire over.

Just moments after the restart Jordan was at his best again when the visitors were nearly handed an equaliser following a mistake from Gerring who let a long ball skip past him allowing Felipe Barcelos a run at goal.

The home stopper showed his class though as he stood up well to usher the striker away from goal, then pouncing on the ball before Barcelos could even get his shot off.

Just past the hour mark Barcelos had another good chance to reply for Oxford but his run and final effort just zipped past the left-hand upright.

Chances were few and far between over the second 45 and the Terras’ first decent sight of goal saw Napper’s sliced attempt fall to Duff, but it mattered not that his shot was blocked by Mooney at point-blank range as he was adjudged offside.

Later at the other end, Ashton let rip with a 20-yarder that whizzed a couple of feet wide before the Terras carved out their best opening of the half seven minutes from time.

Jamie Beasley’s introduction always gets fans on the edge of their seats and it was no different when the substitute’s first decent run down the left flank ended with a neat pull back to Byerley, whose goal-bound shot was turned away by Mooney. A minute later fellow substitute Richard Marshallsay hit a rising drive over the top and then in the closing stages the visitors tried one last, desperate throw of the dice as they withdrew Jamie Heapy for reserve keeper Mark Scott.

Scott replaced Mooney and the big gloveman was sent up to lead the front line, but the Terras had little to worry about late on and hung on comfortably for a deserved three points.

Terras: Jordan, Tribe, Dixon, Napper, Gerring, Poole, Duff (Beasley 64), Malsom (Marshallsay 82), Groves (McKechnie, 79), Byerley, Reed. Subs not used: Frampton, Povall.

City: Mooney, Heapy (Scott, 88), Issac, Learoyd, Ashton, Clark (McConagh 72), Benjamin, Fleet, Pond, Barcelos, Basham (Skendi 82). Subs not used: Scott.

The Rock Man of the Match: Ollie Tribe