Braintree goal has given Terras' Matt the fire
By Derek Bish

Saturday 27th February 2010

WEYMOUTH winger Matt Groves hopes to have kick-started his season after netting Tuesday’s dramatic late equaliser at home to Braintree Town.

The 21-year-old right-sided player brilliantly converted Jake Reid’s pass in front of the Wessex Stadium’s second biggest crowd of the season.

And Groves wants to build on his first goal of the season by continuing to prove he is worth a place in the starting XI, having been in and out of the team since the arrival of manager Jerry Gill.

“The new gaffer has come in, looked at different players and done what he thinks is right for the team,” said Groves. “I want to work hard and try and hold on to my place.”

Weymouth were heading for their fifth straight defeat following a terrible mistake by goalkeeper Tim Sandercombe until Groves swept home his 92nd minute equaliser from Reid’s assist, and the goalscorer wants to link up with the Terras’ top scorer on a more regular basis.

“It was a good feeling to score in the last minute, especially after the lads had worked so hard,” said Groves. “When I scored I just ran to Jake Reid and then got mobbed.

“I don’t remember much, it just passed me by because suddenly I was at the bottom of a massive pile.

“Jake Reid is a good player when he is on top of his game. He’s come back from Grays and found himself in and out of the team a lot, but hopefully the gaffer can see what he does for the team and hopefully he can push on from there and get a few more goals for Weymouth.”

After being substituted at the break in Gill’s first game, Groves was left out of the starting XI for the next three before being restored on the right-hand side of a four man midfield in Gill’s recently-used 5-4-1 formation for the unfortunate loss at Bath City.

He held on to his place in the team for the draw at home to Braintree Town on Tuesday and is relishing the responsibility he has been handed to support the Terras’ lone striker in the last two matches.

Groves commented: “The gaffer has told me not to try and defend too much because I need to join in with the attack when I can, keep getting myself in the box and really get involved.”

With Bromley next up at Hayes Lane this afternoon (3pm), the former Bristol Rov-ers trainee is hoping he can continue his goalscoring form.

“After the game on Tuesday everyone was buzzing,” he said. “We worked hard and, after conceding a goal, to get a really late one lifted us. Hopefully we can kick on now.”

Another player looking to kick on is the man who set up Groves’ late leveller.

Jake Reid has netted nine times in 20 starts and seven substitute appearances for the Terras this season to lead the club’s scoring charts but, since the arrival of Gill, has found his chances limited.

And Reid is desperate to be involved. He said: “I’m not playing as much as I would like.

“It’s frustrating because we are in the final stages of the season and I want to do what I can for Weymouth.

“We’ve got some important games coming up and I want to be involved. The manager knows what I can do and bring to the team and has said I’m part of his plans.

“I’m definitely keen to get involved – everybody at the club is 100 per cent committed otherwise they would have been out of the door.

“It’s been a difficult season and a number of players could have left and gone to play for other teams but they have stuck it out because they know what it means to the fans and the town to stay up.”

n AFC Bournemouth chairman Eddie Mitchell is confident the club can avoid a winding-up order issued by Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs.

The order relates to an unpaid tax bill of £314,000 and Mitchell confirmed at a fans’ forum this week that £100,000 of that will be paid shortly.

He has also assured supporters the remaining debt will be cleared without a hitch.

The former Dorchester Town chief said: “We are confident by the time the order is issued we will have found the money to clear it.”

Weymouth Under-18s host Richard Huish College while their Dorchester Town counterparts are at home to East-leigh, both in the South West Counties League today (11am).