Terras battle back to seal the points
By Adam Summers

SKIPPER Anton Robinson led the comeback as Weymouth made an impressive start to their Blue Square Premier campaign at the Wessex Stadium on Saturday.

The midfielder cancelled out Mark Molesley's early opener on 17 minutes, taking advantage of a mistake by visiting goalkeeper Steve Arnold, and from there on in the Terras produced a remarkable team performance to outplay Grays and capture the three points.

Stephen Reed put the hosts in front on 35 minutes before Chris McPhee added the gloss to the scoreline with a third just eight minutes before time.

Seven of the Terras' starting XI made their league bows with Richard Bernard providing cover between the posts for the injured Danny Knowles, who began on the bench. There was also a spot for latest acquisition Michael Malcolm on the left wing.

Grays included former Weymouth stars Adam Gross and Ishmael Welsh in their line up but their other ex-Terra, Simon Downer, was left on the sidelines to a shoulder injury.

The hosts made a positive start with Reed winning a free kick just 20 yards out that Ryan Williams curled over the bar but Grays soon responded by taking the lead on five minutes after some indecisive defending.

The Terras looked stunned but they soon went in search of a leveller with Malcolm providing a constant threat out wide.

On 11 minutes he nearly picked out Robinson on the edge of the six-yard box before Stuart Elliott replied at the other end with a 25-yarder that Bernard did well to tip over.

Weymouth looked ragged at the back and every time the visitors came forward they looked likely to score. However, it was the hosts that registered next on 17 minutes when Arnold flapped at a cross from the left enabling Robinson to fire into an empty net from 14 yards.

That equaliser seemed to give the Terras fresh confidence and urgency, and moments later Robinson went close with another effort that deflected over the bar off the leg of a Grays defender.

Malcolm continued to wreak havoc and when he helped win a corner on 32 minutes Scott Doe had a header cleared off the line by Rob Gier.

Grays were now clearly on the back-foot and three minutes later they found themselves behind. Kevin Sandwith took a short corner and played in Reed and when he turned inside and let fly the ball flew between bodies and into the far corner of the net much to the pleasure of the home crowd.

Stuart Beavon then had a shot saved by Arnold before Santos Gaia denied Kedwell an equaliser on 38 minutes with a fantastic last-ditch block on the edge of his six-yard box.

The Blues continued to come forward and soon went close again, this time through Taylor whose low drive was kept out by the outstretched boot of Bernard.

The final chance of the first half fell the way of Beavon, who snapped upon a poor clearance by Jon Ashton only to see his shot pushed out by the strong hand of Arnold.

The action-packed nature of the encounter refused to let up after the break. Robinson had a drive stopped by Arnold after another good late run into the box before Kedwell was kept out by another fantastic reaction save from Bernard.

On 54 minutes, McPhee then produced a fantastic snap shot on the turn that Arnold did well to push wide as the Terras continued to search for a killer third goal.

Reed was providing precious cover in front of the Weymouth defence and that enabled the hosts to orchestrate proceedings as Grays began to become frustrated.

Sandwith had a free kick saved by Arnold on 70 minutes before substitute Charlie Ide missed a glaring opportunity to level for the Blues with a close range header that went straight into the hands of Bernard.

Grays kept huffing and puffing but their resolve was finally broken when McPhee made it 3-1 with 12 minutes remaining.

Beavon plucked the ball out of the air and fooled his marker with an audacious touch and when Arnold failed to hold his skidding shot his strike partner raced in to slide the ball home.

The Blues did hit a post in the latter stages through Taylor after a mix up between Doe, Gaia and Bernard but Weymouth thoroughly deserved the three points for a fine all-round performance.