Terras sunk by Bath
By Nigel Biddlecombe

TWO goals in two second-half minutes ended Wey-mouth’s brave effort at Twerton Park.

Terras’ boss Jerry Gill made four changes to his starting line-up following last weekend’s debacle against Basingstoke Town.

Jamie Frampton, Jordan Vincent, Matt Groves and Jake Reid were recalled with Ben Farrell and Pierre Joseph-Dubois (injured), Stephen Reed (dropping to the bench) and Dan Smith missing out .

Although the home side immediately put the Terras under pressure they were unable to create much as the visitors defended in depth – with Cameron Mawer playing behind the back four.

The first real action came in the eighth minute when Frampton blocked Darren Edwards’ run into the box with a sliding tackle.

The ball then bounced up on to his hand as he slid in, however, referee Dean Treleaven sensibly waved away home appeals for a penalty.

Adam Connelly’s corner four minutes later was headed out by Scott Brice only for Matt Coupe to gather and play it across field back into he Bath midfielder’s path, however Connelly’s effort was easily held by Terras’ keeper Tim Sander-combe.

Sandercombe also dealt well with Darren Edwards’ weak header from ex-Terra Gethin Jones’ cross.

The Weymouth number one, who had suffered a torrid debut last week, was then called upon to parry a drive from Jim Rollo.

When the ball fell to Dave Gilroy – after Rollo had reacted first to gather the rebound – the Newport County loanee powered in a fierce drive only to see Sandercombe save well.

Another ex-Terra Sido Jombarti saw his shot blocked by Jamie McGuinness, with Josh Llewellyn out jumping Gilroy to clear at the expense of a corner as the ball ricocheted to the edge of the six-yard area.

Weymouth’s first chance of the half fell to skipper Brice with 41 minutes gone but his headed effort from a Martin Slocombe free-kick flew narrowly the wrong side of the left-hand upright. A minute into first half stoppage time the referee surprised everybody by adjudging Nathan Davies’ challenge on Edwards worthy of a penalty.

However, presumably deciding that he could not take advantage of such generosity, Edwards directed his spot-kick well wide of Sandercombe’s left-hand post.

Weymouth won their first corner of the game six minutes after the interval but the Romans cleared the danger at the second attempt.

The hosts opened their account in the 73rd minute when Frampton was adjudged to have fouled Edwards on the edge of the penalty area. Unfortunately the Terras failed to defend the free-kick as Adam Connelly fired home.

Within two minutes another ex-Terra Hector Mackie, on as a substitute for his home debut, got behind Vincent and crossed into the danger area.

Brice’s clearing header was not strong enough and Edwards was able to make up for his penalty miss without undue exertion.

When Mawer’s clearance was charged down by Jombarti and then played into the path of Edwards, Sandercombe had to react well to save at the home striker’s feet.

Jombarti showed good skills to create some space on the right in the 80th minute and fire in a low cross – however, Edwards attempted to flick the ball on, with his back to goal, and again Sandercombe saved.

With the game in injury time Luke Benbow found space and time to fire in a shot from the edge of the Bath penalty area, but home keeper Ryan Robinson – in truth a spectator for most of the match – dived to his right to save.

Although, as the final whistle sounded, the Terras had seen another three points lost there were certainly many welcome signs of improvement after the Basingstoke disaster.