National League South match report: Aveley 0-1 Weymouth FC

Weymouth: 1 Brooks, 44

Calvin Brooks was the hero as Weymouth climbed off top spot for the first time this season with a win upon a bottom of the table clash against Aveley on Saturday.

The Terras travelled to Essex with boss Mark Moseley making just one change to the starting 11, with Pollock coming in for Ward.

Aveley came close to scoring first, with a chance for Ibby Akbani inside the opening four minutes. His free kick smacked against the wall before landing back at the forward’s feet, allowing him to snatch at a strike which went whiskers wide of the post.

The home side started strongest, and got the first corner of the game after Ogunrinde was tackled on the byline.

Five minutes later, the hosts had another chance, this time from a long-throw in. The set play is met by the head of Brooklyn, but was comfortably saved by Buse.

Weymouth’s first real chance of the game came after 15 minutes, when a fine piece of one-touch football down the left wing saw Keelan O’Connell feed a low cross into the box for Pollock, whose effort was blocked and cleared.

Weymouth were fighting for possession in the early stages (Image: Mark Probin) Akbani went close a minute later after the ball landed at him from a long throw-in. Matt Buse does well to jump on the ball to deny and chance.

The pair of O’Connell and Pollock were linking up again after 22 minutes, with O’Connell supplying a dangerous cross which was headed wide by Pollock.

Pressure was on Aveley, as Weymouth continued the attack in the twenty-fifth minute. Pollock found Ben Greenwood on the edge of the area, but after two attempts, his chance cleared the crossbar.

O’Connell had the next clear cut chance, after Pollock clipped a ball through to the winger on the left. His effort at the near post was well saved at a tight angle by the goalkeeper.

Just into the four minutes of added time, the Terras took the lead through Brooks. His thumping effort to the right corner from a narrow angle saw the keeper well-beaten as the veteran defender went off to celebrate with players and fans.

Calvin Brooks with Terras players after scoring against Aveley (Image: Mark Probin) This was his second goal of the season, with the other effort coming in Weymouth's only other win so far, against Dorking. 

Calvin Brooks after scoring for Weymouth against Aveley (Image: Mark Probin) Aveley were succumbing to Terras attacks early in the second half. O’Connell did well to find Jaiden Bartolo in space with a threaded ball, only to be met by a crucial challenge from Kabongolo.

Buse was forced to make a save from close range after 57 minutes from what was a powerful strike from Tyrese Owen. Hughes’ was in the area for the follow up, but his attempt was blocked and cleared away.

Again, Buse was called on by his team after 66 minutes, this time parrying the ball out wide to the right to deny any danger following a long-ranged effort from Brooklyn.

With just over five minutes to go, the Terras came close to doubling their lead from a corner. The ball was whipped in towards the head of Ezio Touray, who rose highest, but his glancing opportunity looped over the bar.

The game was heated, with Weymouth players amassing at least four yellow cards by the end of the final stages, with cards also being dished out throughout the match at different times to Moseley and a member of the Aveley bench.

The game was a tough contest (Image: Mark Probin) Four minutes of added time was not enough for Aveley to find an equaliser, as Weymouth took all three points back to Dorset.

The result sees them leapfrog Aveley, as well as Enfield following their loss this weekend, to sit in 22nd place this season- the first time they are off the bottom spot.

Weymouth are on the road again this Tuesday night (November 5) with a trip to Weston-super-Mare. 

Terras XI: Buse, Genesini, Thompson, Rowan, Brooks, Greenwood, Robinson, McQuoid (Jordan 85), Pollock (Touray 82), O’Connell (Maguire-Drew 70), Bartolo. Subs: Maguire-Drew, Jones, Hamblin.