Following Tuesday’s impressive home victory over Aldershot, Gary Johnson’s men will be looking to follow that up with another positive result against Weymouth at Plainmoor tomorrow.
Who’s the Boss?
David Oldfield departed his managerial position at Oxford City to take the helm at Weymouth in January.
Oldfield had been manager of the Hoops for 22 months, with the current campaign seeing him guide them to 10 wins, 8 draws and 4 losses, with City sat in 4th place in the National League South prior to his departure.
With the 53 year-old leaving to sign a two and a half deal at the Bob Lucas Stadium, Weymouth’s struggles have unfortunately continued since his arrival, with the Terras only securing 1 win in 11 games.
The Australian had previously spent time as Academy Manager and Assistant Manager at Peterborough, West Bromwich Albion, and MK Dons, as well as stints as Assistant Manager at the likes of Stevenage, Queens Park Rangers and Burton Albion, prior to arriving at on at Oxford City in 2020.
In his playing career, Oldfield had been a midfielder and enjoyed spells at the likes of Manchester City, Stoke City, Peterborough United, Leicester City and Luton Town.
How have they been doing?
The Terras currently sit in 21st position, nine points adrift of safety with 22 points, and having lost their last five outings. Despite these daunting statistics, Weymouth have only been narrowly defeated by the likes of current league leaders Stockport County (1-0) and chasers FC Halifax Town (2-0) recently, with the Dorset side’s last points being picked up when they hosted Bromley last month, in a 2-2 draw.
Player to Watch
Bradley Ash was the Terras’ 11th signing last summer, and arrived from National League South side Chippenham Town. The forward has scored 4 goals in 19 appearances for Weymouth so far this season, with his most recent strike coming in the side’s narrow 3-2 defeat away at Wealdstone on 12th March.
Ash began his career with hometown club Weston-super-Mare following 14 goals in 14 appearances in the 2015/16 season, earned himself a move to League One Barnsley. Despite being unable to break through into the first team side, the 25 year-old was a key component in their Under-21 squad. The following season he returned to the Somerset side on loan and netted 19 goals in 34 games in the side that went on to finish 15th in the National League South.
Upon the expiration of his contract at the Oakwell Stadium, Ash made a permanent move to Boreham Wood, prior to a stint at Hereford preceding his spell at Chippenham where he scored 4 goals in 4 appearances in the curtailed 2020/21 season.
Played for Both
Chris McPhee enjoyed two spells at both United and Weymouth during his playing career. The midfielder’s first stint at Plainmoor was in the 2006/07 season during which he made 37 appearances, before returning ahead of the 2011/12 campaign when he scored 2 goals in 27 appearances. McPhee spent the 2008/09 season at Weymouth before returning to the Dorset side as player-coach in 2014, scoring five goals in 53 appearances.
Beginning his career at Brighton & Hove Albion, he signed his first professional deal in August 1999 before making his debut aged 16 against Swansea City in the December, before his career took in loan stints at Aldershot and Swindon Town.
Other former clubs also include the likes of Ebbsfleet and Kidderminster, where he made 103 appearances and scored 31 goals for Kidderminster Harriers between 2009 and 2011.
Previous Encounter
Torquay United 2 – 1 Weymouth, 10th April 2021, National League.
Gary Johnson’s side came from behind to secure three points against Weymouth in the behind closed door National League clash as Plainmoor last April.
The visitors lead at half time through an Andrew Dallas penalty, before Jake Andrews levelled the scores on the hour mark. After snatching the points in the away leg the previous December, Connor Lemonheigh-Evans replicated the late heroics once more to seal the points.
The Terras took the lead against the run of play.
On 41 minutes, a ball from the right drifted to the far post, forcing Lucas Covolan to act, and with Dallas going down as the Brazilian looked to claim the ball, the referee pointed to the spot. Dallas picked himself up moments later and duly fired the ball home to give his team the advantage.
After numerous chances Wynter’s brave header in the centre of midfield gave Danny Wright the chance to feed Andrews in space from 25 yards out, and it was with typical pin-point accuracy that he looked up before letting fly with a low drive that beat Ross low down to his left, before nestling in the back of the net to give United the goal they deserved.
Johnson’s side continued to plug away, and with five minutes remaining, they got the goal they craved. Andrews, not content in his role as scorer, turned provider with a superb corner that Lemonheigh-Evans met perfectly with a back-post header to make it 2-1.