Terras sunk by Staines
By Nigel Biddlecombe

FOUR changes, three new faces, but the same outcome – that was the story on Saturday as Weymouth slumped to another defeat.

Manager Jerry Gill brought in ex-Terra Cameron Mawer, who has been released by Grays Athletic, along with goalkeeper Joe Welch – a man with England C experience on loan from Southend – and Dan Smith who recently played for Eastbourne Borough.

Meanwhile, goalkeeper Ryan Harrison, Simon Radcliffe and Jake Reid were all relegated to the bench.

Watched by ex-Weymouth legend David Laws, the Terras started well when Stephen Reed robbed Darty Brown and chipped the ball over the home defence into the path of Pierre Joseph-Dubois – however, although the visiting striker successfully chipped the keeper, the ball ended up in the side-netting.

Shortly after this Reed, himself, saw a shot deflected and Ben Far-rell fired wide when Yado Mambo failed to clear Martin Slocombe’s long throw.

With their first real attack of the game Staines took a 10th minute lead.

Joseph-Dubois’ attempted pass to Josh Llewellyn was intercepted by Marien Ifura who hit a long ball upfield. Marc Charles-Smith outpaced Scott Brice down the right flank before firing a low ball across the penalty area.

Tamer Tuna wrong-footed the remaining Terras’ defenders as he stepped over the ball leaving Leroy Griffiths to drive home from the edge of the area.

Tuna headed a free-kick from Howard Newton well wide, before Newton doubled the advantage in the 20th minute.

A superbly worked move saw Griffiths, Tuna, Charles-Smith and Andre Scarlett combine before giving Newton the chance to slot home from just inside the penalty area.

As Weymouth tried to find a way back into the game Brice headed wide from Reed’s corner, Farrell shot wide and then the same player saw Louis Wells tip his shot from the edge of the box over the crossbar.

Scot Bennett saved the Terras from falling further behind when he produced a superb tackle to deny Tuna after Griffiths had laid the ball into his path 15 yards from goal.

Tuna thought he had scored Staines’ third goal in the 31st minute with a clever bicycle kick, however, the point was disallowed – the referee deciding Bennett had been pushed off the ball.

Play moved from end to end with Tuna, Charles-Smith and Scarlett all missing for Staines while Reed shot wide and Wells easily held Slocombe’s free-kick before the first half came to an end.

Gill replaced Brice with Matt Groves at the break, pulling Mawer into the centre of defence and moving Jamie McGuinness into the right-back position.

Within seconds of the restart Newton ghosted past Slocombe and fired a low cross into the six-yard box which Welch failed to hold however, Griffiths was unable to take advantage of the rebound allowing the on-loan keeper to gather at the second opportunity.

Weymouth pulled a goal back, in the 50th minute – Smith took a quick free-kick to Groves whose return pass put the ex-Eastbourne man clear on the left, giving him room to whip in a terrific low cross which was met by the diving Joseph-Dubois, leaving the home defence rooted to the spot.

A few minutes later another Smith cross caused problems, as it ran across the area, but Groves was crowded out when he attempted to get the ball back inside to the waiting Llewellyn.

Newton fired wide after Gordon had put him through on Welch’s goal, before Joseph-Dubois saw his effort saved.

Weymouth felt that they should have had a penalty when Joseph-Dubois was felled by Gordon in a 63rd minute goalmouth scramble, but the referee laughed away the appeals.

Staines put the result beyond doubt with 16 minutes left to play when they won a free-kick on the edge of the area, right in front of goal. Ali Chaaban, who has just come on the field as a substitute, firing home with his first touch of the match as the Terras’ defensive wall touch evasive action, leaving Welch totally unprotected.