NLS: Torquay United v Weymouth 7:45pm 5/12/23

Although it was a well deserved victory last night, with the injuries that we keep sustaining, it could turn out to be more of a Pyrrhic victory with Stobbs looking like he is out for the majority if not all of the remainder of the season, Ash hobbling off after hitting his stride and scoring three times in 3 games and Lapslie patched up for this game only to be clattered again with another early shower being the result. Some tasty challenges made by the Weymouth players and they were perhaps lucky to only lose a man when they did with the referee finally finding his red card.

Great start to the game with Stubbs drawing a foul in the center of the pitch 25 yards out, and Gavin must’ve been licking his proverbial chops and did not disappoint with a thunderbolt into the top right hand corner of the goal giving their keeper no chance. Could’ve had another goal shortly after with another cross from the right wing finding Ash at the near post with his flick, just rebounding off the woodwork with Weymouth now shaken if not stirred. They did have some chances with the header well over and another shot wide but Ash got into onto the act after a timid shot by Archer was cleared out straight to him and he let rip with a first time shot into the bottom right corner of the goal. Players have a habit of scoring against their old club, but the Weymouth commentator in front of me didn’t appreciate his celebration with a few unprofessional gestures being made. We seemed to be cruising, but a corner was headed out straight to one of their players on the edge of the box and a well directed shot that was hit into the ground found its way past Halstead to make for a closer match going into the second half.

In the second half first we lost Ash after he seemed to wiggle past their defender on the edge and to the side of the penalty area and was brought down and maybe it should have been red as opposed to yellow? Unfortunately, that was the end of Ash’s contribution for the night limping off to be replaced by Hanson. From a corner, the ball came out to Stobbs, who was just beginning to outpace the Weymouth player when he pulled up, possibly a hamstring injury, resulting in him being stretched off. Time for De Silva, we all thought with the pop singing his name, but seemed he was only on the bench for show with Thomas coming on to make his debut in defence with yet another reshuffle but the former youth player did ok there.

Just before our third goal, we had very much a sliding doors moment. First, Collins picked up a yellow for complaining to the ref about awarding a foul where a Weymouth defender was clipped with much of the crowd not seeing any contact. Then seconds later, he pushed over one of the Weymouth players on the touchline resulting in a stern talking to from the referee, other refs may have given him a second yellow but may have gotten away with it as the first offense wasn’t foul play. From the free kick, Halstead was able to collect the ball and for once knocked it straight out down the pitch where Collins was able to race clear on the left-hand side and shoot from the penalty area to beat the keeper at the near post. The Weymouth commentator was not overly happy about this with salt rubbed into his wounds when Collins was made man of the match.

Both teams were starting to accumulate a number of yellows with the ref, being particularly inconsistent by now, but eventually the toll teller when Archer tried to race away in between two Weymouth defenders and was pulled back, earning a second yellow for the Weymouth man and it was effectively game over although with our full-blown injury crisis, it was more of a case of limping over the line.