TT PREVIEW

Andy talks about the Terras

TERRAS STRUGGLES

Did you really have to start with that one? In over 50 years of supporting the Terras, I struggle to recall a worst first half season than this one. Rock bottom, with not a single home league win and only 12 league goals scored, entertainment and excitement has been in scarce supply at the Bob Lucas Stadium so far. Terras fans have had to hit the road in order to experience any joy, with our two league wins – at Dorking and Aveley – and FA Cup and Trophy ties seeing our only successes, not least an incredible 2-1 victory at despised rivals, Yeovil Town in the Trophy just a couple of weeks ago.

The main reason for our struggles I’m afraid has to be the disastrous appointment of Mark Molesley last March. A hero here during his first spell winning back-to-back promotions before joining Southend United just before the start of our National League return in 2020, his career has surprisingly nosedived with unsuccessful spells at Roots Hall, Aldershot, Gosport and Hayes & Yeading. I was amazed the Weymouth board shoe-horned him into the job uncontested with a CV like his.

That said, the loss of our main two strikers, Brandon Goodship and Malachi Linton since early September until very recently was a big blow no matter the manager.

NEW MANAGER

At first, the appointment of Warren Feeney was a surprise as I (and many other fans) thought the job would go to Jerry Gill who had just left Bath City after seven fairly decent years. However, the Board after much criticism for the way it appointed Mark Molesley without inviting any applicants, took its time and conducted a robust selection process with proper due diligence and I think it may just have made a shrewd move this time as Feeney has previous experience of keeping a struggling club in the National League South with Welling United.

KEY PLAYERS

The aforementioned Brandon Goodship has already long written himself into Weymouth FC folklore and stands just two goals away from a century of goals for the Terras. Despite our lack of goals, rarely have we been heavily beaten either (30 goals against in 21 league matches is hardly a bottom of the league statistic), so our defence is usually pretty sound. Centre back Jordon Thomson is a classy defender, Goalkeeper Will Buse on loan from Yeovil has impressed since joining in September, and club stalwart Calvin Brooks bleeds claret and blue and can be dangerous down the right flank. Also bleeding claret and blue is skipper Tom Bearwish, a skilful, industrious central midfielder but is currently injured leaving the experienced former Northern Ireland international and former Gull, Josh McQuoid to wear the armband.

POSSIBLE LINE-UP

Difficult to tell as, in addition to Bearwish we lost three players to injury last Saturday at Chelmsford who would without doubt be in Thursday’s starting line-up. Defender Charlie Rowan was stretchered off with a nasty head injury in the first half so protocols alone almost certainly rule him out and I’ve no idea about the condition of other two, Calvin Brooks and on-loan Gibraltar international striker Jaidon Bartolo. If just Rowan and Bearwish are unavailable, I think our line up might be: Buse, Brooks, Thompson, Jordan, Hamblin, McCarthy, Robinson, McQuoid, Ward, Goodship, Bartolo. With Genesini and Linton coming in for Brooks and Bartolo if necessary. Ex-Gull Keelan O’Connell will likely be a substitute.

AVOIDING THE DROP?

I will always remain hopeful that Warren Feeney can turn things around for us but if I’m perfectly honest, it’s hope rather than expectation even at this stage of the season as I don’t feel the current squad is strong enough to get and keep us above the bottom four. Even if the mountain of keeping us in the National League South proves too big to climb, Feeney, with his knowledge of how to put the ball in the net from his playing days should, with Goodship and Linton’s returns, at least give us a few more goals to celebrate. There may be over half of the league fixtures still to be played but this really does feel to me like a last roll of the dice.

PRE-MATCH REFRESHMENTS

Had to consult my son on this one! Plenty of pubs in Weymouth town centre and for those who like a traditional hostelry, The Globe and Market House Tavern are very popular. Elsewhere there is (of course) a couple of ‘Spoons – The Swan and William Henry. The town centre though is a good 30-40 mins walk to the Bob Lucas Stadium so you’ll probably want to get a taxi. Just 10 mins walk from the stadium is the John Gregory – a very friendly pub where I shall be having Christmas Day lunch with my family and from where you can catch the lunchtime Man City v Everton match. However, I cannot vouch for the Boxing Day opening times of these places, so with our match likely to be segregated WFC will be opening the “away bar” at the Bob Lucas Stadium for you all.

BEST OPPOSITION

As I said earlier, very few teams have turned us over with ease this season, however one of those was a very impressive Truro City who ran out 4-1 winners at the Bob Lucas Stadium last month and in striker Tyler Harvey had someone we simply couldn’t handle that night as he helped himself to a hat-trick. Others who have caught my eye were Ricky Holmes of Farnborough Town and ex-Terra Sean Shields who was the difference between the two teams in our 3-2 defeat at Tonbridge Angels on the opening Saturday.

PREDICTION

Against what promises to be a confident and well-drilled Torquay team I’m not expecting our goalscoring struggles to end but I cannot help taking my mind back to Easter Monday when Champions-elect Yeovil Town visited the BLS and came up against a Terras side with new-found inspiration in front of a crowd of nearly 5,000 and new manager. We played brilliantly that day and won 1-0 (it still makes me smile to think we’ve beaten “The Slime” twice in 2024!).

So, with another expected large crowd with a new manager and the current league leaders awaiting on Boxing Day, hopefully we’ll manage a similar result but if Torquay bring their A-game, I think they’ll have too much for us so my prediction is a 1-0 win for The Gulls. My hope though is we’ve at least played well enough to force you into that A-game to give us some hope going into the new year.

Despite everything I’m looking forward to the match. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!