WEYMOUTH 0 EBBSFLEET UNITED 2

WEYMOUTH’S survival hopes suffered an early onslaught as Ebbsfleet United cruised to victory at the Wessex Stadium.

Goals from Ricky Shakes and Kezie Ibe in the opening 11 minutes knocked the stuffing out of the Terras as games continue to rapidly run out in their quest for Blue Square Premier safety.

The hosts did have chances with Marcus Browning and Stephen Reed both being denied by Fleet keeper Lance Cronin but overall the Terras were poor and will need much better performances in their final three games if they are to beat the drop.

Terras’ boss Bobby Gould made two changes to the side that claimed a 1-1 draw against Forest Green Rovers last Monday with Callum Hart and Stephen Cooke coming in for Jordan Collins and Dominic Merella.

Browning returned from suspension and took a place on the bench while Pierre Joseph-Dubois made his first appearance in a match-day squad following three months out with a metatarsal injury.

Also among the home substitutes was defender Raiff Gwinnett, who is now match fit after signing for the club on non-contract terms on deadline day. Ebbsfleet’s 5-2 defeat against Histon on Thursday caused away manager Liam Daish to make five changes to his starting XI where there was no place for top-scorer Michael Gash, who was again sidelined through injury.

The visitors made the livelier start and after five minutes they forged ahead when some intricate passing in and around Weymouth’s area saw ex-Yeovil Town forward Ibe feed Guiseppe Sole, who cut the ball back from the left by-line for Shakes to tap home.

It was a soft goal to concede and moments later United nearly grabbed a second when Sole broke through only to see his shot diverted wide by a magnificent last-ditch block by the retreating Cameron Mawer.

The Terras did not seem to be at the races and on 11 minutes the Fleet punished them again. This time a fantastic cross from Leon Crooks from the right touchline found Ibe, who out-jumped both Gavin Hoyte and Kyle Critchell in the box to send a fine header into the corner of the net.

Weymouth’s play was littered with mistakes and nine minutes later a misplaced pass by Stephen Reed fell into the path of Michael West whose fine drive from 20 yards had to be pushed wide by keeper Adam Ledzkins.

The hosts clearly needed a lift and on 26 minutes it nearly arrived when Reed’s corner from the right caused havoc in the Ebbsfleet box. The ball eventually fell to Cooke but he sliced his shot horribly wide when he really should have hit the target.

Browning replaced Cooke on 35 minutes as Gould tried to spark his side into life from the bench but apart from some encouraging flashes of skill from Fola Onibuje the home side continued to lack ideas and cohesion.

In fact the Terras’ biggest weapon was from set-pieces and in the dying seconds of the first half they nearly got one back from Reed’s perfectly delivered free-kick.

The midfielder’s cross from the right flicked off an Ebbsfleet head into the path of Browning at the far post but his downward header was brilliantly saved from Cronin.

Weymouth came out after the break and showed a little more spirit but they still lacked a cutting edge, as Ebbsfleet continued to look comfortable.

The Terras’ first opportunity of the half came on 64 minutes when a succession of flicks by Onibuje and Browning saw James Coutts break into the box only to be shepherded wide of the target where his attempted lob looped over the bar.

Gwinnett came on for Ben Gill moments later to make his debut but it was Ebbsfleet who had the next chance which saw Sole have a 30-yard free-kick tipped over the bar by Ledzkins.

Hart limped off with 13 minutes remaining and was replaced by Merella before Reed had a volley pushed wide and Cliff Akurang turned an effort over the bar in the dying stages as United held on to take home the three points.

Weymouth: Ledzkins, Critchell, Hoyte, Mawer, Hart (Merella 77), Reed, Gill (Gwinnett 65), Coutts, Cooke (Browning 35), Onibuje, Akurang. Subs not used: Evans, Joseph-Dubois. Ebbsfleet: Cronin, Hawkins, Crooks, McCarthy, Ricketts, Charles, Shakes (Moore 88), Long, West, Sole (Rashid 79), Ibe (Purcell 88). Subs not used: Mott, Pooley.