SALISBURY 2 WEYMOUTH 1

WEYMOUTH travelled to Salisbury hoping for another three points but came away frustrated with a 2-1 defeat.

The Seasiders started well by stringing together accurate passes but were unable to penetrate the opponents' 23.

After 10 minutes, Salisbury won a penalty corner after centre-back Matthew Bell was deemed to deliberately hit the ball over the baseline.

The home team took advantage and scored with a drag flick high into the corner of the goal.

Following the early setback, Weymouth again looked dominant and pushed for an equaliser, but they were caught on the break and conceded another penalty corner.

A straight strike from the top of the circle found its way through keeper David Civil’s legs resulting in Salisbury’s second goal.

The Seasiders were frustrated for the remainder of the first half, which ended 2-0 to the hosts.

Weymouth’s players knew they were still in the game as they had dominated the first half with most of the possession but with no reward.

The period following the restart was perhaps their strongest of the match and almost immediately Matthew Underhill came close with a diving deflection that crept just past the right post.

Weymouth continued to threaten and were finally rewarded with a successful penalty corner of their own.

The corner was won by Luke Drewitt carrying the ball wide from the right past various Salisbury players and eventually on to a defensive foot in the circle.

At the corner, under pressure Daniel Bowles moved the ball left to Patrick May who struck it low and hard to the left post where Simon Harvey was positioned to lay a stick and deflect the ball into the net.

Weymouth pushed for an equaliser, again looking the more likely of the two sides to score.

In the latter stages, Salisbury appeared content to hold possession in their half but from time to time strong pressing from the forward line of May, Drewitt, Aaron Wilkinson and debutant Ben Heckford resulted in turnovers and the Seasiders persistently worried the hosts’ back line.

Minutes from full time, Weymouth found the net through Underhill but the goal was disallowed, the umpire deciding that a Weymouth player had obstructed a defender in the process.

Weymouth persisted but could not find their equaliser. At the final whistle, the visitors would have been disappointed not to take at least a point from the fixture.

This Saturday, Weymouth return to fortress Redlands to host Southampton University.

Weymouth Hockey Club caters for two men’s teams and welcomes players of all ability to training from 7-9pm on Wednesday evenings at Redlands Sports Centre.

For further information visit the club’s Facebook page.