HEMEL HEMPSTEAD TOWN 2

G Williams 81, 89

WEYMOUTH 1

Westbrook 23 og

WEYMOUTH were undone by two late goals in the final nine minutes as Hemel Hempstead claimed a 2-1 victory at a bouncing Vauxhall Road.

Jack Westbrook’s own goal put Weymouth ahead after Nahum Melvin-Lambert’s header was saved and Weymouth looked set to hold on for the points until late on.

George Williams’ volley sailed through a forest of legs on 81 minutes before Weymouth keeper Zaki Oualah punched thin air from Williams’ corner which landed into the corner of the net.

Weymouth manager Bobby Wilkinson made two changes to the side that began the 2-1 loss to Concord in midweek.

READ MORE: Hemel Hempstead 2-1 Weymouth - how it happened

Jamie Egan was benched but Ahkeem Rose (hamstring) missed out from the squad completely, Matt Buse and Melvin-Lambert coming in.

Skipper Tom Bearwish was passed fit despite a hamstring niggle midway through the second half against Concord.

David Nyarko, Dan Matsuzaka and Harvey Slade retained their places on the bench, with Egan joining them. 

Good news for the Terras came from Harry Kyprianou, who was fit enough to take his place on the bench after a hamstring injury.

Ben Thomson (ankle) also travelled with the squad but was not ready to play.

Thomson and the Weymouth bench had to sit back and watch Hemel make a fast start to the game as Westbrook bundled home in the third minute, only for his effort to be chalked out for an infringement in the box.

Hemel later dumped a free-kick out of play but in Weymouth’s first serious attack Buse drilled a left-footed shot just wide of the far post.

Hemel always carried a threat with their lively attack and Luke Holness came close to an imaginative goal with a deft flick that trickled beyond Zaki Oualah and the far stick.

Weymouth again replied with a shot at goal when Scott Rees’ cross was half cleared to Xander McBurnie, his left-footed shot too close to Tudors’ keeper Craig King.

But the Terras kept their foot on the gas and took the lead in the 23rd minute in fortuitous circumstances.

Buse was key in the move, supplying Blair on the right. The in-form winger’s delivery picked out Melvin-Lambert and his header forced King into a stunning reaction save. Unfortunately for the keeper, the ball rebounded in off the face of the helpless Westbrook for 1-0.

Hemel’s play began to fragment slightly as George Williams scuffed a free-kick into the wall, but the hosts had strong claims for a red card for a heavy tackle by Rees.

In a 50/50 challenge, Rees appeared to go studs up, both feet off the ground against Arnold Matshazi and was lucky to escape with just a yellow for a challenge that enraged Hemel’s bench.

Weymouth took every opportunity to wind the clock down and there were no further chances before the break.

Hemel were forced into a change six minutes into the second half when Holness came off worse in an aerial duel with Oualah and had to be replaced by Charlee Hughes after a lengthy delay.

Brad Ash was unlucky to see his charge down of King’s attempted clearance spin out of play, before Hughes tested Oualah at the other end, Weymouth’s keeper making a sharp save at his near post.

Oualah was warned by referee Tom Ellsmore for time-wasting before Melvin-Lambert had a shot blocked in the area.

His effort sparked a purple patch for Weymouth, who played some attractive and intricate football in the Hemel third, Blair’s fierce shot blocked away and McBurnie just getting too much on his cross from the left channel.

King escaped a close call for handball before Carlyle was booked for time-wasting and Ash had Weymouth’s next major chance when he was sent through on the right only to see his dipper land on the roof of the net.

However, Hemel pushed for a leveller and found it with nine minutes to go after David Sesay was booked for hauling down Matshazi.

McBurnie could only head Josh Williams’ free-kick to George Williams and his well-controlled volley flew through a crowded box and past the motionless Oualah for 1-1.

Sensing the win, Hemel proceeded to throw the kitchen sink at Weymouth with a string of crosses into the box and the Terras duly could not resist.

The third of three corners in succession came from George Williams on the left and Oualah made a hash of the punch, getting nowhere near the delivery as it sailed into the corner of the net.

Nyarko replaced Buse for his debut in the third of seven added minutes but instead it was the Tudors who won possession in attacking areas to run down the clock.

Blair won a late corner but when Rees' rifled effort flew over the referee blew for full-time on another agonising day for the Terras.

Hemel: King, Eleftheriou (Castiglione 74), J Williams, Roberts, Westbrook, O'Connor-Ajayi, G Williams, Morgan-Griffiths, Holness (Hughes 51), Matshazi (Brown 90), Hinds. Subs not used: Mukendi, Lewis.

Terras: Oualah, McBurnie, Carlyle, Sesay, Bearwish, Ash, Buse (Nyarko 90+3), Melvin-Lambert, Rees, Willson, Blair. Subs not used: Egan, Kyprianou, Matsuzaka, Slade.

Referee: Tom Ellsmore

Attendance: 488