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Kassam kings
By Nigel Biddlecombe
WEYMOUTH earned their first Blue Square Premier win since
October 20 with a magnificent battling performance at the
Kassam Stadium last night.
The injury-hit Terras showed fantastic character and no little
skill in taking maximum points and to end a winless run of
seven league games.
Under pressure manager Jason Tindall made three changes to
his starting line up with Nick Crittenden and Simon Weatherstone
out through injury and Justin Roberts dropping to the bench.
Kyle Critchell was given the central defensive role, while
Marcus Browning and James Coutts came into midfield.
From the kick-off the Terras took the battle to the home
side with Wilfried Domoraud battling past his marker before
forcing keeper Billy Turley to come off his line and save,
within a minute Browning robbed Luke Foster and found Anton
Robinson.
The Terras' skipper ran on before putting Gavin McCallum
free on the right, the midfielder's cross being met by Coutts
who fired just wide.
advertisementThere was ten minutes on the clock before Oxford
created their first real chance as Barry Quinn took a quick
throw-in which was only half cleared, but Alex Jeannin follow
up shot, from 35 yards flew well wide.
Terras keeper Jason Matthews had to look sharp to hold on
to a Jeannin cross in the 13th minute, but it was Weymouth
who were looking the more dangerous side.
The visitors were unlucky - in the 15th minute - when a Coutts
free-kick from the left was superbly met by Scott Doe whose
powerful header rebounded off the crossbar.
Craig McAllister fired over the bar from 25 yards while Critchell's
free-kick at the other end was helped on by McCallum into the
path of Browning only for his fierce drive to be deflected for
a corner.
Phil Trainer hit the Weymouth woodwork with a free-kick from
the edge of the area after 35 minutes - the ball flying high
behind the goal for a goal kick - but it was the Terras who
broke the deadlock three minutes later.
Domoraud won a corner on the left much to the home side's
disgust. Coutts took the kick and the home defence were static
as Doe rose to send a header against the crossbar.
Luckily, McCallum was on hand to prod the rebound over the
line.
The second half started in much the same vein when Adam Gross
latched on to a poor clearance and found Domoraud in space
but the on-loan striker's shot struck a defender and was scrambled
clear.
Although the home side were beginning to put pressure on
the Terras' goal they found it hard to create any clear-cut
chances as the visitors harried and battled to hold on to
their lead.
Doe cleared from Murray, Trainer shot wide while Gross did
well to rob Duffy just as he shaped to shoot.
Despite being forced on to the back foot Weymouth continued
to cause problems on the break and Turley was called upon
to save well from McCallum and Beavon.
Joel Kitamirike did brilliantly to block a shot from Yemi
Odubade as Oxford threw everything at the visitors in a desperate
effort to find the equaliser, but Weymouth were not to be
denied three hard-earned and well-deserved points.
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