Terras are on the move, insists
Gill
By Derek Bish
Monday 8th February 2010
EVEN though Weymouth's troubles continued on their travels
with a 3-1 loss at Staines Town, manager Jerry Gill said he
had seen his side take a step forward.
The new Terras’ boss, who was taking control of his
third game, wielded the axe following Tuesday’s 4-0 loss
at Eastleigh, making four changes in total by putting three
new players into the starting 11 and dropping top scorer Jake
Reid in favour of Pierre Joseph-Dubois.
Weymouth are now five points adrift of safety in Blue Square
South following a win for Hampton & Richmond and a draw
for Lewes, but Gill insists his side are still very much in
the race.
“We’ve lost the game 3-1 but we have taken a step
forward,” said Gill. “I can see things there that
have improved.
“At 2-0 down we have got ourselves back in the game
but from a set piece we’ve gone and conceded when the
wall has jumped, so it’s disappointing.”
He added: “We are still in this race to get to safety
and I just hope I can get the people I want this week.
“Hopefully that will happen and we can hit the ground
running.”
Ahead of the Blue Square South match, Gill made three new
signings and put them all straight into the starting line-up.
Goalkeeper Joe Welch, 21, has signed on loan until the end
of the season from Cambridgeshire-based Blue Square Premier
club Histon, a team he has made three starts and one substitute
appearance for this season.
“Joe is a presence,” said Gill. “He is a big
lad and has got all the attributes to go on and be a really
good goalkeeper.
“I’ve taken Ryan Harrison out of the firing line.
He is not happy with that but the conversation we’ve
had has been okay and I’ve explained my reasons.
“It’s just a case of freshening things up because
a lot of goals have gone in recently. They are not just down
to Ryan but I’ve told him where he needs to strengthen
and where he doesn’t.”
Twenty-year-old left winger Dan Smith has joined on non-contract
terms from Eastbourne Borough.
The wide man has appeared for Plymouth Argyle in the Cham-pionship
as recently as 2008 and Gill believes he could be the man
to unlock the more stubborn defences in Blue Square South.
“He’s a lad who has certainly got talent,”
said Gill. “He needs to put a smile on his face and is
one who can be a flair player for us.”
Gill’s third signing of the weekend saw a familiar face
return to the Wessex Stadium in the form of defender Cameron
Mawer, 23, on non-contract terms from Grays Athletic.
“Everyone knows about him and he brings an athleticism
to the defence,” said Gill. “He wants to come and
play for me, and showed a good appetite on Saturday and he
had a good steady game.
