Terras in freefall
By Nigel Biddlecombe

WEYMOUTH fell to their sixth league defeat in seven games as they were brushed aside 4-1 at Ebbsfleet United.

The hosts raced into a 3-0 half-time lead before the Terras responded through Gavin McCallum, but with 16 minutes to go it was too little too late as Fleet went on to add a fourth just before the final whistle.

Manager Jason Tindall made three changes from the team that lost to Salisbury for Saturday's trip to Kent.

Adam Gross made his debut while Simon Weatherstone returned after a lengthy absence and Joel Kitimarike came in as the Terras started with a 4-5-1 formation.

Stuart Beavon missed out through injury as Wilfried Domoraud occupied the lone striker's role.

The visitors got off to the worst possible start when, with just two minutes on the clock, Michael Bostwick picked up a loose ball and found Stacy Long in space on the edge of the penalty area.

Long held off a challenge by Scott Doe to run into the box and fire past Jason Matthews.

The Terras moved forward in search of an equaliser with Sido Jombarti, Anton Robinson and Nick Crittenden all missing chances before Weymouth suffered a further blow in the 16th minute when Weatherstone broke down and was forced to leave the field with a sprained ankle.

Crittenden saw his effort from 25 yards saved and Robinson fired into the side netting before Ebbsfleet doubled their advantage in the 27th minute.

Bostwick appeared to be in an offside position as he gathered the ball on the halfway line wide on the right, the Fleet man though, made the most of the situation as he played a superb cross-field ball to John Akinde.

The home youngster made effective use of his strength to outmuscle Doe before playing a ball over the defence which found Long who fired home his second of the game.

Four minutes later Domoraud was left in space inside the six-yard box but fired the ball wide of a post following McCallum's cross.

United added a third goal four minutes before the interval and it was ex-Terra Chukki Eribenne who scored it.

The striker's header, from a Long corner, flew into the top right corner leaving Matthews stranded.

On the stroke of half-time McCallum robbed Neil Barrett and made good ground before releasing Crittenden. Unfortunately for the visitors the midfielder's effort hit the side netting.

The home side appeared to take their foot off the pedal in the second period, but the Terras were unable to take advantage.

A long clearance by Matthews in the 64th minute was helped on by Domoraud to McCallum, but home keeper Lance Cronin was on hand to save well.

Weymouth did pull a goal back on 74 minutes when Bostwick was penalised for a foul on Robinson. Crittenden curled a low free-kick towards the far post and McCallum was there to score from close range.

Michael Malcolm - coming off the bench to make his Terras debut - and McCallum brought saves from Cronin before Ebbsfleet ended the game with a fourth goal in the final minute.

Akinde collected a pass from Mark Ricketts and played the ball through to Long who helped the ball onto Bostwick to fire into the corner out of Matthews' reach.