Weymouth 1-0 King's Lynn Town - Omar Mussa wins game for Terras

Mussa 50

KING’S LYNN TOWN 0

WEYMOUTH claimed successive victories for the second time this season as Omar Mussa proved the match-winner in a 1-0 triumph over King’s Lynn Town.

A drab first half gave way to an entertaining second at the Bob Lucas Stadium as Mussa slammed home an 18-yard finish on 50 minutes.

Mussa then won a penalty, only for Josh McQuoid to scuff wide, and King’s Lynn ended with 10 men as substitute Michael Gyasi was sent off for a bad lunge on Tom Bearwish.

Weymouth eventually saw out the game without further scares to boost themselves into 17th.

Weymouth manager Brian Stock made one change to the side that began the 2-0 win at Aldershot Town on Tuesday.

Brandon Goodship came in for centre-back Tyler Cordner, who dropped out of the squad completely due to suspension.

READ MORE: Weymouth 1-0 King's Lynn Town - how it happened

Cordner was present at the ground, along with Xander McBurnie, but the duo took no part in the warm-up.

Sean Shields returned to the matchday squad, taking his place on the bench alongside goalkeeper Harrison Bruton – who was also added to the 16.

Sean Shields hit the bar within a minute of coming on as a substitute Picture: MARK PROBIN

Strikers Brad Ash and Martell Taylor-Crossdale, plus winger Ahkeem Rose, completed the Terras' options from the dugout.

Weymouth began what was a low-quality first half in the ascendancy as the Linnets committed two early fouls.

Ollie Harfield delivered both free-kicks which were cleared, the second only as far as Mussa who dribbled a shot at keeper Paul Jones.

King’s Lynn, by contrast, looked lively in attack as Jamaican striker Junior Morias curled a 25-yard effort at Ross Fitzsimons.

Weymouth went close in the eighth minute when Harfield’s cross from the left floated just beyond the reach of Ben Thomson at the back post.

But the Terras’ level began to drop off as new signing Jayden Davis headed tamely at Fitzsimons before Morias scuffed a horrid 30-yard shot wide.

Weymouth created little of note but a genuinely quality ball from Josh Leslie-Smith, splitting centre-back and full-back, was just too strong for stand-in right-back Tom Bearwish.

Bearwish turned producer with a chipped ball to skipper McQuoid but after winning a corner the Terras again failed to trouble Jones in goal.

Tom Bearwish, left, excelled at right-back Picture: MARK PROBIN

King’s Lynn were forced into a change in the 38th minute as Tyler Denton suffered a knee injury, Ross Barrows his replacement.

As the half wore on Weymouth grew more frustrated at the officials’ decisions, one of which came as Gold Omotayo was allowed to continue play and win a corner despite Andy Robinson being barged to the floor.

But the Terras remained unscathed going into the break, giving Stock a chance to reboot his misfiring side.

Coming out with renewed vigour in the second half, Weymouth reaped instant dividends.

McQuoid’s cross from the left was touched down by Goodship to Cameron Murray, whose excellent control enabled him to lay off to Mussa for a wonderful 18-yard finish with his left foot.

Weymouth had the chance to double their lead from the spot on 58 minutes after the Terras’ best move of the match.

Murray’s sublime flick was matched by a cheeky nutmeg by McQuoid and, although the skipper was tackled, Mussa followed up to draw a foul in the box from a lunging Daniel Bowry.

However, Weymouth missed a sixth penalty in seven when the normally clinical McQuoid dragged his effort wide of the near post.

Josh McQuoid missed his penalty in the 58th minute Picture: MARK PROBIN

King’s Lynn tried to reply when Munashe Sundire was blocked superbly by Leslie-Smith – and that was Sundire’s last action, replaced by Gyasi.

At the same time, Weymouth brought on Shields and the winger smacked an effort against the bar following good work by Thomson.

Barely 75 seconds had elapsed before Gyasi saw red, however, as the midfielder’s dangerous tackle on Bearwish earned him a red card from referee Scott Simpson.

King’s Lynn had to play the final 18 minutes with 10 men and looked shaky at the back as Harfield’s corner was dropped by Jones only as far as Taofiq Olomowewe.

With Jones scampering back, Olomowewe’s flicked effort looped up kindly for the keeper, sparing his blushes.

Taofiq Olomowewe hooks an effort at goal after keeper Paul Jones dropped a corner Picture: MARK PROBIN

Barrows was then cautioned for a reckless foul on Murray as King’s Lynn’s frustrations were laid bare.

Weymouth gave Taylor-Crossdale his first home appearance, coming on for Thomson, and the striker held the ball up well, taking the ball into the corner at every opportunity.

Weymouth professionally ran the clock down into the 95th minute but Shields created one last chance, dancing around tackles in the box before his shot deflected onto a King’s Lynn hand, with nothing given.

In the end, Weymouth claimed all three points for back-to-back wins and clean sheets – despite being far from their best.

Terras: Fitzsimons, Goodship (Ash 86), Mussa (Shields 71), Thomson (Taylor-Crossdale 81), McQuoid, Bearwish, Leslie-Smith, Robinson, Murray, Harfield, Olomowewe. Subs not used: Bruton, Rose.

King's Lynn: P Jones, Denton (Barrows 38) Callan-McFadden, Bowry, Clunan, Coleman, Omotayo, Morias (Fernandez 60), A Jones, Sundire (Gyasi 71), Davis. Sub not used: Linton. 

Referee: Scott Simpson

Attendance: 1,056