Weymouth 5 Salisbury 3

WEYMOUTH 5 SALISBURY 3

WEYMOUTH got their promotion charge back on track with a vital win over second-placed Salisbury.

The Seasiders started the better side deploying a high pressing tactic, this paid dividends when captain Steven Membury won the ball high up the pitch and beat a defender on his way into the opposition circle before firing a low shot past the keeper into the bottom corner.

The home side then extended their lead when forward Patrick May buried a trademark drag flick into the corner leaving the keeper with no chance.

The visitors then pulled a goal back when the defence got caught out and left a forward unmarked in the attacking D who slotted past keeper David Civil.

Weymouth then scored another, after a goalmouth scramble presented the ball to Membury he saw his shot stopped on the line illegally by a covering defender.

Membury himself stepped up to score the stroke firing it confidentially to the keeper’s left.

Salisbury then managed to score one more before the break, having failed to clear the lines Weymouth conceded a soft goal to bring the first half to a close.

The second half began with the home side in the driver’s seat, dictating the speed of play and controlling possession through defenders Matthew Bell and Simon Harvey.

Weymouth then stretched their lead further when a speculative ball from Daniel Bowles found his midfield partner Matthew Underhill who unleashed a first-time shot into the bottom corner.

However, the scoring wasn’t to be finished there, Salisbury began to build in confidence and their good attacking work paid off when they were awarded a penalty corner from which they managed to score with a well-worked routine.

Weymouth were then really starting to struggle especially when Bowles found himself in the sin-bin after trying to recover a loose ball.

Nevertheless, Weymouth remained resolute and managed to restore their two-goal cushion when brilliant running from Underhill found skipper Membury who showed great composure to slot the ball past the keeper and complete his hat-trick.

The Seasiders next fixture is an away trip to Southampton.

Goals: May, Underhill and Membury (3)

Man of the Match: Steven Membury