Trainer makes his mark
By Adam Summers

WEYMOUTH'S bid for survival in the Blue Square Premier was hit by a second-half sucker punch at the Wessex Stadium on Saturday.

The Terras dominated the first half but their failure to capitalise allowed a below par Oxford side to stage a late smash and grab to capture all three points.

The winning goal came in the 75th minute from the head of Phil Trainer and it could well have been worse for the home side had late efforts from Jamie Hand and Yemi Odubade found the net and not hit the frame of the goal.

Tony Bedeau's return to Torquay meant Stuart Beavon was drafted in up front alongside Michael Malcolm.

The other change in Weymouth's starting XI saw Cambridge United loanee Mark Convery come in for Nick Crittenden, who dropped to the bench.

With the previous Saturday's disappointing defeat at Farsley Celtic still fresh in their minds, the Terras were clearly keen to gain control in the early exchanges and in the opening two minutes they got behind the United defence twice only to send in poor final balls.

advertisementOxford replied with a good piece of play on the left flank which saw Trainer send in a fine cross that Justin Richards headed wide but it was still the hosts who were enjoying the majority of the possession.

The Terras created their first opening on 12 minutes when Anton Robinson headed the ball into the path of Michael Malcolm whose shot on the turn was superbly pushed away by visiting keeper Billy Turley.

That seemed to lift John Hollins' men and they fashioned another good opportunity moments later. Stuart Beavon and Malcolm linked well to play in James Coutts but Turley was again equal to the final shot, pushing it wide of the far post.

The Terras were clearly in control and some of the quick passing they were producing in and around Oxford's box was of the highest quality.

They soon tested Turley again, who did superbly to rush off his line and block a close range effort from Coutts after a fine cross from Convery.

Beavon's clever movement was proving a constant threat to Oxford's back-line but in the latter stages of the half the visitors enjoyed a brief spell of pressure of their own.

A corner from the right was swung into the Terras' box on 40 minutes and when Stephen Henderson allowed the ball to slip through his hands Matt Day had a strike that was superbly blocked by Simon Weatherstone.

Malcolm hit back by sending a shot from 18 yards just wide but the score remained goal-less at the break much to the relief of Oxford and no doubt the frustration of Hollins, who clearly felt his side should have been ahead.

The Terras continued to look the more threatening outfit in the early stages of the second half with Convery driving a shot wide from 20 yards but Oxford soon responded with a good opening for Eddie Anaclet.

The winger ghosted in on the far side of the box and fired over from 15 yards after a cross from the left from Trainer.

Crittenden replaced Coutts on 61 minutes and after Adam Murray shot wide from 25 yards for the visitors there was a chance at the other end with Chris Blackburn heading just over from a corner.

However, the game's turning point came when Malcolm turned inside his marker and fired wide of the near post with his left boot when he really should have scored.

It was a glaring miss and one that was punished moments later when Oxford took the lead through Trainer, who headed in unmarked at the far post after a fine cross from Anaclet.

The Terras responded by sending on Stuart Douglas for Kyle Critchell and within seconds Malcolm headed over from a free-kick. But that was to prove the Terras' last effort on goal as Oxford dominated the dying minutes and were unfortunate not to add a couple more.

Substitutes Odubade and Craig McAllister missed the best of the visitors' late chances. Odubade went close with a shot from outside the box before Henderson's poor clearance presented a golden opportunity to McAllister.

The forward looked certain to score but the Weymouth keeper made up for his error with a fine block. Hand then had a 50-yard lob rebound off the top off the crossbar and seconds later the frame of the goal was rattled again, this time by Odubade whose powerful shot was pushed on to a post by Henderson.