Weymouth blitz sinks the Fleet
By Adam Summers

WEYMOUTH boss John Hollins enjoyed a happy baptism in the home dugout at the Wessex Stadium as his side recorded their first win on their own patch for four months.

After a tight opening 45 minutes the hosts came to life after the break with two goals in the space of eight minutes through Stuart Beavon and Marcus Browning.

Beavon then raced through and added his second on 79 minutes before Anton Robinson wrapped up the result to ensure the Terras galloped into the Setanta Shield quarter-finals.

Hollins made one change to the starting XI that began Saturday's 1-0 defeat at Ebbsfleet in the FA Trophy with Paolo Vernazza returning from suspension and replacing Sido Jombarti.

But there were also two welcome surprises on the home bench where Simon Weatherstone and Nick Crittenden were included.

Both men were making their long-awaited returns after several weeks out with long-term injuries.

Their frontline was particularly interesting as it was made up of former Terras Chukki Eribenne and Raphael Nade, who both left the Wessex Stadium just over 12 months ago.

The blustery conditions ensured the game opened in a scrappy fashion but Ebbsfleet winger Chris McPhee nearly made an early breakthrough on six minutes when he engineered some space on the edge of the box and chipped the ball on to the top of the crossbar.

George Purcell followed up the rebound but his volley went so wide it ended up going out for a throw-in.

The visitors continued to look the more threatening side but they were unable to create any clear chances and on 18 minutes Michael Malcolm nearly sneaked in at the other end.

The in-form striker gambled on a cross from Trevor Challis that had ricocheted off defender Ronnie Bull but luckily for the Ebbsfleet debutant his keeper Sam Mott was alive to the danger and gathered.

That seemed to buoy the Terras and moments later Mott had to rush off his line and make another vital interception after Malcolm went close to getting in again.

The remainder of the half was mainly fought out in midfield with both sides looking very limited in terms of their attacking play.

With the prospect of extra-time and penalties, if the game remained goal-less, both sides came out in the second half looking to be more adventurous.

Purcell had a shot from distance comfortably gathered by Matthews before he then had two efforts blocked by fantastic last-ditch tackles from Kyle Critchell and Scott Doe when just ten yards out.

It looked like Ebbsfleet were getting on top but on 54 minutes the Terras took the lead.

Malcolm made a nuisance of himself in the box and when Gary McDonald failed to clear Beavon broke quickly on to the loose ball and shot superbly under the body of Mott.

United looked stunned and moments later the hosts could have had a second. A fine passing move ended with skipper Browning breaking into the area but his final effort took a slight deflection off a covering defender and went just wide of the near post.

A corner should have followed but the referee gave a goal kick instead.

Crittenden was given a warm reception when he replaced James Coutts moments later and on 62 minutes the Terras were celebrating again.

Vernazza swung in a superb free-kick from the right and as Ebbsfleet's defence stood like statues and Mott got caught in no man's land Browning nodded into an empty net.

Nade responded with a driven effort that went straight at Matthews before Weatherstone was introduced into the action, replacing Browning.

Like Crittenden before him the club captain's entrance was greeted by warm applause and within minutes he attempted a cheeky chip from just outside the box that fell just wide.

Ebbsfleet continued to try and find a path back into the game but with 11 minutes remaining McDonald got caught out by a long ball allowing Beavon to race through and slot home his second past the advancing Mott.

United now looked well and truly shell-shocked and in the final minute Robinson rounded off the night's scoring when he slotted home after Malcolm's initial effort was blocked.