WITH mounting concerns surrounding the off-field problems at the Wessex Stadium, it was perhaps not a surprise that Saturday’s game at Stonebridge Road saw the Terras perform well below the level that many expect of them.

A poor game was settled by a single goal from George Purcell midway through the first half, although both sides did have their opportunities.

Weymouth elected to play Chris McPhee and Pierre Joseph-Dubois as their front two with Stuart Beavon tucking in behind them, a decision which led to far too many long balls being aimed at McPhee – although he did win the majority of them – with the passing game that we have all come to expect suffering as a result.

Kevin Sandwith’s fifth minute throw to Beavon caught the home side unawares and the visiting striker was able to get in a cross which was just too high for McPhee while the first chance at the other end came in the 15th minute when Sacha Opinel found Stacey Long on the Ebbsfleet left.

Long managed to cut into the box, but his run was halted by a great challenge from Adam Bygrave.

A minute later Neil Barrett latched on to Danny Slatter’s throw only to shoot wide.

The goal that was to prove the winner came in the 24th minute.

Slatter intercepted a wayward Weymouth pass and advanced down the right flank.

After a good interchange with Luke Moore he found room to send a cross into the penalty area which appeared to be easy pickings for Cameron Mawer.

However, Mawer and Scott Doe got in a tangle which resulted in the former’s attempted clearance falling to Purcell who fired home a volley from just inside the penalty area.

The visitors attempted to respond and a Sandwith free-kick caused problems among the home defence, but Doe was just unable to make contact.

With the half drawing to a close both goalkeepers were called into action.

Firstly, Danny Knowles had to look sharp when Long’s lob over the Terras’ defence was collected by Michael Gash, only for the stopper to scramble his effort away.

At the other end Beavon beat Dean Pooley to a McPhee pass, but, with just Lance Cronin to beat, the Terras’ man attempted to chip the ball over the Fleet keeper who was able to smother the ball and deny Weymouth an equaliser.

It was Ebbsfleet who came out of the blocks strongest after the interval.

Long began to exert his influence on the game, providing the ammunition for the home side. However, Moore failed to control when he found space in front of goal, Gash drove his effort well over the stand and into the distance while Purcell spurned several chances.

Weymouth were relieved when Barrett picked out Long and the Fleet man hit a curling effort from the edge of the penalty area which Knowles could only watch with admiration as the ball narrowly flew past an upright.

At the other end another Sandwith free-kick bobbled around the penalty area before falling to Beavon on the edge of the box – the Terras’ man hit a fierce effort which Cronin could only parry, but Barrett was on hand to complete the clearance.

Ebbsfleet had reason to be grateful to Pooley when in the 75th minute he was on hand to scramble the ball off of his own goal-line as Joseph-Dubois and Beavon attempted to get on the end of a Ryan Williams’ cross.

Shortly after this McPhee got behind the home defence to reach a cross by Bygrave, but his flicked effort only found the side-netting.

The final chances of the match fell to the home side as Craig Stone found Purcell with a clearance, the young striker managed to find a way through the visiting defence and pick out Jamie Hand who forced Knowles to react sharply to save, while the Terras keeper also did well to tip a shot from Stone over the crossbar.