Terras blitzed by Bryant
By Derek Bish

FRUSTRATIONS finally boiled over for the Wessex Stadium faithful as Weymouth crumbled to a humiliating defeat at the hands of a Basingstoke Town side that did not even need to get out of the driveway, let alone first gear.

Mitchell Bryant netted six of the easiest goals he will ever score as debutant goalkeeper Tim Sandercombe had a nightmare, and the rest of the team was not far behind.

Chairman George Rolls and Jerry Gill received the brunt of the supporters’ anger while the team were booed from the field at half-time and the end.

There were five new faces for Terras’ fans to learn since their last home game – a 3-1 win over Lewes on January 30.

Sandercombe lined up as Wey-mouth’s third goalkeeper in as many games, making his debut just 24 hours after joining on non-contract terms from Blue Square Premier side Mansfield Town.

Nathan Davies, in midfield, also debuted while Danny Smith made his first appearance at the Wessex Stadium after joining from Eastbourne Borough.

Teenage striker Luke Benbow had to settle for a place on the bench while Cameron Mawer returned to the Wessex Stadium for the first time after departing at the end of last season.

Ex-Terra Richard Barnard wore the opposite number one jersey while there was an impeccably-observed minute’s silence for former Weymouth manager Brian Godfrey ahead of kick-off.

The home side started brightly and forced a corner and a free-kick in the early stages, the second of those set-pieces being swung in from Stephen Reed, just beyond the outstretched boot of Pierre Joseph-Dubois.

Sandercombe – who was yet to touch the ball – had a horror start to his debut, swinging his leg at a harmless through ball and missing, allowing Bryant to tuck the ball into the unguarded net.

Joseph-Dubois blazed over from eight yards after Josh Llewellyn teed him up before Llewellyn himself volleyed harmlessly over as Weymouth tried to respond.

Joseph-Dubois made a nuisance of himself in the opposition penalty and scuffed his shot across goal, but Dan Smith could only stab wide from close in.

However, Town doubled their lead when David Pratt was released down the right channel and drove in a shot-cum-cross for an unmarked Bryant to slide in to net his second easy goal of the day.

Simon Radcliffe replaced Ben Farrell in midfield in the 38th minute but Bryant completed his hat-trick of tap-ins when he tucked in from a couple of yards after Sandercombe had blocked Gary Frewen’s volley – the striker’s treble coming from a total distance of less than 10 yards.

Joseph-Dubois’ snapshot on the turn forced Barnard into his best save of the match inside the first minute of the second half only for Bryant to guide his fourth home in the 53rd minute after the Weymouth defence stopped and stared at a long ball over the top.

Sandercombe spilled an easy header as Weymouth’s fans finally lost patience and barracked chairman Rolls in the main stand, Gill in the dugout and the players on the pitch.

Joseph-Dubois nearly scrambled home a consolation on the hour mark but Miles Mitchell-Coop cleared off the line.

Rob Rice crossed for Frewen to set up Bryant’s fifth, predictably another tap in after ghosting past an almost invisible Sandercombe.

Jahson Downes flicked the ball over Martin Slocombe and sent a low cross for Bryant to convert his sixth and the Dragons could have made the Terras’ afternoon even worse had it not been for some poor finishing.