Slimbridge Brushed Aside by League Leaders Weymouth in 0-5 Home Defeat
Toby Holmes scored a hat-trick at Thornhill Park to help Weymouth FC brush past struggling Slimbridge in a 0-5 victory, writes Alfie Richmond.
A tough start to life in the Southern League didn’t get any easier for Slimbridge as they welcomed league-leaders Weymouth on Saturday afternoon.
The visitors came into the game having won seven out of their last eight league games, as The Swans looked to show a reaction after last weekend’s defeat at Barnstaple Town — and change the tide of their season.
A nightmare start for the hosts saw Weymouth net twice in the opening 15 minutes, with Holmes netting his 16th and 17th of the season thanks to some poor defending and a wonderfully-taken volley.
Callum Godfrey was kept extremely busy as Weymouth looked to extend their two-goal lead throughout the half.
Terras captain Tom Bearwish forced a strong palm from the Slimbridge goalkeeper on 25 minutes, before he claimed a header from close-range by Tor Swann.
Owen Giles made sure the visitors didn’t net a third after blocking a drilled effort from Swann off the goal-line a few minutes later.
Swann may have had two or three when more chances continued to fall to him, first after robbing Luke Bence of the ball in dangerous territory, before Godfrey stepped off his line sharply to keep the deficit to two after making a brilliant double save.
A rare venture forward at the end of the first half saw a couple of good chances pass the home side by.
A well-struck effort from Theo Lynden was deflected wide on 40 minutes, before a Giles header from Joe Stokes’ corner forced a brilliant stop from Weymouth keeper Gerard Benfield on the stroke of half-time.
The visitors had dominated the opening 45 minutes, making their two-goal lead seem a modest return for their efforts.
A stronger start to the second half saw Slimbridge miss their best opportunity of the match when Leighton Blacker evaded the challenge of Kieran Douglas to get his shot away, one that was cleverly stopped by Benfield on 57 minutes.
Douglas had a chance of his own minutes later after a spectacular volley from range produced another outstanding save from Godfrey.
But Weymouth continued to probe, and eventually got their third of the game with 20 minutes remaining.
A quick move forward saw Holmes set the ball perfectly to Lewis Brown who swept home to make it 0-3.
Calvin Brooks added a fourth for the away side with seven minutes remaining from a thumping header that Godfrey couldn’t get near.
Casey Collins had the chance to add a consolation late on in the game after dragging his effort wide, but instead Holmes netted his third and Weymouth’s fifth to round off a perfect afternoon for The Terras.
The Swans are back at home next week when they welcome fellow strugglers Melksham Town, but not before their mid-week trip to Larkhall Athletic on Wednesday night. Weymouth have back-to-back home games in different cup competitions coming up, starting with Poole Town on Tuesday in the county senior cup, before a clash with Hampton & Richmond Borough in the FA Trophy at the weekend.
Slimbridge AFC: Godfrey; Giles, Moore, Kang, Bence, Evans, Sully, Lynden, Blacker, Stokes ©, Collins.
Subs: Hart, Mathews (46’), Bifulco (81’), Browne (85’), Rowsell.
Weymouth FC: Benfield; Hutchinson, Douglas, Jackson, Bearwish ©, Holmes, Beardmore, Swann, Brown, Pollock, Brooks.
Subs: Matthews, Hanger (82’), Keita (86’), Stavrianos (86’), Ntounda (86’).
C Martin Roofing Man of the Match – Callum Godfrey (Slimbridge)
READ MORE: Check out the list of Saturday’s results in and around Gloucestershire right here
