Weymouth 2-2 Eastleigh pre-season friendly at Bob Lucas

EASTLEIGH 2

Weymouth had to settle for a 2-2 draw with Eastleigh after the visitors came from behind twice at the Bob Lucas.

A brace from Francis Amartey put Mark Molesley's side up twice in the first half, only for a Spitfires equaliser in final five minutes to dash hopes of a win against the National League side.

The Terras got off to a quick start with Amartey showing some brilliant feet in box the as he danced his way through two Eastleigh players.

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Francis Amartey celebrates his second goal against Eastleigh with team mates (Image: Mark Probin)

Eastleigh's Liam Webb then brought the forward down in the box, with the former Ayr United man stepping to slam the ball into the back of the net after ten minutes.

Keelan O'Connell was then forced off with an injury after 16 minutes and was replaced by Tom Bearwish.

Just after the 20 minute mark Gerard Benfield was called into action between the Terras sticks as Eastleigh almost levelled the scores.

A venomous effort from Scott Quigley on the half-volley forced Benfield into a diving save, palming it away from goal.

Moments later though the visitors would find an equaliser, this time Quigley placing his shot after receiving a cross from one of Eastleigh's trialists.

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Weymouth's Keelan O'Connell was forced off early on in the game against Eastleigh (Image: Mark Probin)

New signing Ben Greenwood prevented the Spitfires from taking the lead as he put his body on the line with what looked like a certain goal after the ball was squared across the face of Benfield's goal.

Then, with 31 minutes on the clock, up stepped Amartey to grab his second goal of the game, cutting in from the left and leaving the Eastleigh defenders for dead, blasting the ball home. 

As the second half got underway Amartey was straight back into the action with some silky stepovers but the forward could not find a Terras shirt in the box.

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With an hour played, Molesley made two changes bringing Jordan Thompson and Josh McQuoid on for Ezio Touray and Leo Hamblin.

Amartey came close again in the 66th minute has he hunted his hattrick after cutting inside again, but was denied by a last gasp block.

(Image: Mark Probin)

The visitors came close to an equaliser in the 76th minute as Deji Sotona's corner found Paul McCallum whose header back across goal went wide of the post.

As the final ten minutes approached, Molesley made a raft of changes with five players changed as the game entered its dying moments.

With five minutes of the game to go, Eastleigh were able to level the score as McCallum placed his header from a Richard Brindley cross past Benfield, despite the Terras keeper getting a hand to it.

Former AFC Bournemouth and Spitfires man Greenwood almost grabbed a late winner but his long range free kick was blocked.

Next up for the Terras is a visit from AFC Bournemouth's under-21s team to the Bob Lucas on Saturday, July 27