Weston-super-Mare 2-3 Weymouth: Brandon Goodship hits winner

Grubb 27 pen, Pope 45+1

WEYMOUTH 3

Parsons 30, Bearwish 44, Goodship 71

WEYMOUTH came behind to beat Weston-super-Mare 3-2 in an open and enthralling Boxing Day clash in the Vanarama National League South.

Four goals were scored in the first half as Harry Parsons first cancelled out Dayle Grubb’s penalty.

Tom Bearwish headed Weymouth in front but Jason Pope’s deflected goal levelled matters at the break.

However, the game’s best goal was reserved for Brandon Goodship as he took advantage of Parsons’ cutting through ball to seal the points for the Terras.

READ MORE: Weston-super-Mare 2-3 Weymouth - how it happened

Weston ended with 10 men after Sam Avery horrendous challenge on Parsons to scupper the striker when clean through.

Weymouth made just one change to the line-up that began the 1-1 draw with Dover Athletic on Saturday.

Joel Rollinson dropped to the bench, with Olu Durojaiye returning from illness to take his place in the line-up.

In the dugout, Tyrique Clarke and Keelan O'Connell lost their places in the squad.

Calvin Brooks came in after serving a two-game ban, with Dan Roberts, Elliott Bolton and top-scorer Ezio Touray Weymouth's other options from the bench.

Both sides had gone a combined six league games without a victory but the action in front of goal was plentiful in the first half as they looked to end that statistic.

Jacob Jagger Cane tested Weymouth keeper Gerard Benfield early on before Parsons worked Benfield’s opposite number, Cheltenham loanee Max Harris.

Parsons and Harris would have their own personal battle in the opening quarter as the striker, on loan from Maidenhead United, drilled wide of the left post.

In the 17th minute, Weymouth struck the post and were only denied a goal by the brilliance of Harris, who tipped Teddy Howe’s long-range bullet onto the woodwork via a teammate.

Max Harris, right, saved Teddy Howe's stinger in the 17th minute before it hit the post (Image: MARK PROBIN)

James Dodd forced Benfield into another good save before Parsons conjured a third save from Harris midway through the half.

Harris’s efforts were rewarded first as Dodd won a penalty, Howe deemed to have fouled the Seagulls’ man from behind.

Former Forest Green midfielder Grubb stepped up to convert the spot-kick, although Benfield got fingertips to it.

Weymouth needed only three minutes to reply, though, as Parsons notched his second goal with a delicious strike beyond the left glove of Harris.

The chances kept on flowing as Grubb took up a dangerous position in the box and brought an acrobatic save from Benfield before Weymouth were denied a penalty when Bearwish went to ground in the box.

However, Bearwish would get on the scoresheet in the 44th minute as his deft header from Howe’s pinpoint cross beat Harris.

The Terras will then have been irritated by not seeing out the lead to half-time as Pope’s long-range speculator was deflected past Benfield for 2-2.

In the second half, Weymouth picked up where they left off as Goodship had a goal ruled out for a foul and Harris flung himself to deny Alfie Rutherford after his mazy run.

Rutherford nodded off target seconds later as his wait for a first Weymouth goal endured.

Jagger Cane and Bearwish both hit the target before the midway point in what was a frantic game, but it was not long before Weymouth retook the lead.

Goodship got the third with a goal of real quality, started by Parsons whose razor-like through ball sliced open the Weston defence and Goodship nutmegged Harris with aplomb for 3-2.

Brandon Goodship scores Weymouth's winner (Image: MARK PROBIN)

Goodship had Harris scrambling again 10 minutes from time but Weston escaped going two goals down.

And with Weymouth defending well late on, Avery’s frustration boiled over as Parsons ran through, cynically bringing down the striker as Weston ended defeated and in sour fashion.

Sam Avery is sent off for bringing down Harry Parsons late on (Image: MARK PROBIN)

Weston: Harris, Reid, Morton (Jackson 79), Willmott (Mannings 32), Pope (Bastin 75), Grubb, Humphries, Avery, Thomas, Jagger Cane, Dodd. Subs not used: Purnell, Fletcher.

Terras: Benfield, Howe, Hamblin, Cook, Jo Thompson, Durojaiye, Rutherford (Roberts 79), Bearwish, Goodship (Rollinson 90+1), Parsons, Rowan. Subs not used: Touray, Bolton, Brooks.

Referee: Harry Warner.

Attendance: 1,202.