Weymouth 0-1 Aldershot Town: Brandon Goodship scores late own goal

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BRANDON Goodship’s stoppage-time own goal handed ex-Weymouth hero Mark Molelsey a winning return to the Bob Lucas Stadium with new club Aldershot Town.

Weymouth are now winless in 10 Vanarama National League sides, the Terras remaining nine points from safety with 22 games to play.

During what had been a soporific match, with very few clear chances, Aldershot went close when Toby Edser’s cross slammed against the bar.

Goodship contrived to miss a header from close range and was then unsighted in getting the final touch to Edser’s wicked free-kick as Weymouth were cruelly sent to defeat in the 92nd minute.

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

Looking for his first victory in Weymouth colours, boss David Oldfield made two changes to the starting XI that began the 2-1 defeat to Dagenham in midweek.

Centre-half Taofiq Olomowewe and Tom Solanke were both fit but were left out of the matchday squad as Omar Mussa returned from a shoulder injury and Tom Bearwish got his first start under Oldfield.

Tom Bearwish, right, got his first start under boss David Oldfield Picture: MARK PROBIN

With Bearwish promoted to the starting XI, Xander McBurnie was afforded a place on an otherwise unchanged bench.

After a jittery start to the game, Weymouth settled the quicker and probed away at the Shots’ defence.

Sean Shields saw two crosses well taken by keeper Mitch Walker either side of a rising Mussa shot and Bearwish clattering an effort into the advertising hoardings.

At the other end, Cam Murray tripped Jayden Harris on the edge of the box only for Tommy Willard to sky his free-kick.

Both sides struggled with their aerial deliveries in windy conditions but Murray kept an incisive pass on the deck for Aaron Drewe, whose chipped cross landed on the roof.

Mussa and Murray both fired well wide as the wait for a first shot on target of the entire game went into the second half.

That box was ticked second after the restart when Willard tested Fitzsimons from 25 yards, seconds after the whistle.

Aldershot continued with real purpose and saw claims for a penalty fall on deaf ears when Mo Sylla was brought down on the edge of the area by Mussa.

After the free-kick was cleared, Shots struck the bar when Edser’s cross-shot beat Fitzsimons, only to smash against the bar.

Goodship had come on for Josh McQuoid in a tactical switch at half-time and the striker somehow missed a glorious headed chance from fellow sub Ahkeem Rose’s cross on the hour.

Ahkeem Rose looked a danger when he came on in the second half Picture: MARK PROBIN

Rose began the move by feeding Shields on the left and the winger’s shot was blocked, allowing Rose to cross left-footed for Goodship at the back post.

The ex-Southend marksman did everything right, finding space by peeling off his marker, but lacked accuracy with his finish as the side-netting bulged.

Shields found Goodship with a cute ball into the area but the striker did not shoot first time and was quickly crowded out before Rose had a header deflected wide for a corner which came to nothing, Shields’ delivery yet again lacking precision.

Sean Shields, right, struggled with his deliveries against Aldershot Picture: MARK PROBIN

Weymouth looked the likelier to score but Fitzsimons had to be watchful in the 78th minute as Sylla rifled at goal.

Aldershot had defended well and gradually began to search for a winner in the final five minutes, sub Mikael Ndjoli firing a deflected free-kick off the wall after Haji Mnoga was booked for a lunging tackle.

Edser’s corner picked out Sylla, the rangy midfielder screwing his shot wide under pressure from the Weymouth defence.

With just three added minutes, any goal would likely prove the winner – and it fell to Aldershot.

Weymouth felt aggrieved at the decision to award a free-kick near the right touchline as Harris appeared to run across Bearwish, who was booked for the trip.

Edser then swung in a wicked delivery from which the unsighted Goodship got the last touch past Fitzsimons, sending the travelling Shots support into ecstasy.

Weymouth’s fans continued to back the Terras – as they had done loudly all game – but the hosts fell short of an equaliser, suffering what was an undeserved loss.

Weymouth now turn their attentions to a juicy derby at Yeovil on Tuesday (7.45pm).

Terras: Fitzsimons, Cordner, Mussa, McQuoid (Goodship 46), Mnoga, Bearwish, Drewe, Murray, Harfield, Greenidge (Rose 56), Shields. Subs not used: McBurnie, Morgan, Blair.

Aldershot: Walker, Lyons-Foster, Edser, Panayiotou, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Glover (Berkeley-Agyepong 64), Jordan, Sylla, Phillips, Harris, Willard (Ndjoli 73). Subs not used: Coulter, Wilson, Webb. 

Referee: Gary Parsons

Attendance: 1,571