MERLEY COBHAM SPORTS 1

WEYMOUTH RESERVES 3

JAKE Richmond hailed his side’s character after they pulled off a fantastic 3-1 victory at Merley Cobham Sports.

The Terras took a two-goal lead in the Magna Dorset Premier League en-counter thanks to goals from Shane Sheridan and Adam Anstey but after the break they came under severe pressure after Adam Light had reduced the deficit on 50 minutes.

For the next half-hour the visitors were forced to show their mettle under the onslaught before substitute Chukki Taylor came off the bench to wrap up the points with a fabulous third.

Joint-manager Richmond, whose side are now fourth-bottom in the county’s top flight, said: “We played really well against a very good footballing side and to come away with the three points was a fantastic effort.

“The first 15 to 20 minutes was end to end although we created the better chances with Shane being denied by an incredible save from their keeper from point-blank range.

“How he tipped his header on to the bar I do not know but eventually we got our noses in front when Lee Sharpe put Shane in again and he ran through and made it 1-0 on 35 minutes.

“The rest of the half was all us and we deservedly got a second just before half-time when Adam finished off another fine ball from Lee after Merley had only half cleared a corner.

“We knew they would respond after the interval and to be fair in the second half they battered us.

“They grabbed one back five minutes into the second half and then just kept passing the ball around us, so we went to 4-5-1 in a bid to fend them off and it worked. Although they enjoyed the large majority of the possession they were unable to break us down and in the end Chukki came on and raced past three defenders before striking the ball across their keeper to finish it off.

“To hold on like we did was really pleasing and the boys were absolutely buzzing afterwards but it is important we do not get carried away.

“It is great to get the victory and start climbing the table after having six points deducted but the challenge now is to maintain this level of performance in the weeks ahead.”

Weymouth will travel to Cranborne on Saturday looking to record back-to-back victories for the first time this season.

Terras: Mutch, Sharpe, Anstey, Maxted, Staines, Winsper, A Skelton, Jarvis, Zima (Harvey 70), Crouch (Holland 75), Sheridan (Taylor 80).