PSF: Weymouth 29/7

[lucy6lucy]

Bring back nicho....ok maybe not. Need to get a LB ASAP mr hargreaves

[supergulls]

3-1 another deflected shot

[tomogull]

Are we playing fruitball?!

3 - 1 ????? I bet the Weymouth fans are going bananas ..........

[nickbrod]

At 3-1 that must be the cherry on the top for Weymouth!

[lucy6lucy]

Based on this result, we will BEAT Exeter.

[supergulls]

To be honest they deserve the lead

[Richinns]

Disappointed. This close to the start of the season is a bit deflating.

Still - only a friendly so don't read too much into it.

[monkeyboy]

Did anyone have a decent game?

[nickbrod]

When I last looked Weymouth are fourth favourites for promotion from the Southern League.
For us losing a PSF is a timely reminder that there's still plenty to put right which I'm sure CH well knows.
Time soon surely to see some departures.

[tktufc91]

Hopefully the team had a bit of an off day. In the end, let's not get too disheartened, different kettle of fish once the season gets started.

[Gullscorer]

We'll get a plum tie against Weymouth in the FA Cup..

[Gullscorer]

Hopefully the team had a bit of an off day. In the end, let's not get too disheartened, different kettle of fish once the season gets started.

Different kettle, same fish..

[DevonYellow]

It's a friendly. Don't get too excited when you win. Don't get too deflated when you lose.

[supergulls]

Don't get carried away we rested bowman and young and left a few starters on the side, but taking in all of that Hargreaves was fuming at the end

[gillygull]

Strange game really though Weymouth were worthy winners. First half we were playing brainless long balls up to Benyon and Yeoman and I can't really remember us creating a chance and we certainly did not get the ball down on the ground very often. It was all pretty scrappy though Weymouth did put together a couple of good moves. The goal was from a deflected free-kick given for Seabright handling the ball just outside the area. Otherwise a pretty dire first half. Chris McPhee was probably the best player on the pitch having signed his Weymouth contract before the game to great cheers from the home supporters. He was calm and composed throughout in centre-midfield and I can't remember him wasting a pass.

We started more convincingly after the break and looked good for 10 minutes as we actually were more patient with the ball and moved it around with a bit of control. This did lead to an equaliser and the finish from Briscoe was stunning. Before the game we thought he looked a bit of a beast but he is strong and has a lovely touch and looks like he has the strength up front that was missing last season. And just when it looked like we were in total control, a mistake down in the left corner (Downes & Cruise?) let them in for a tap-in which was quickly followed by a repeat performance for 3-1. From this point onwards there were so many substitutions it meant for a rather scrappy end to the game though Weymouth came close to a fourth on a couple of occasions.

Some thoughts on the players.

I haven't posted for ages and am not jumping on the bandwagons but .... our two full-backs are not up to it. Yetton made Cruise look a novice on several occasions and Cruise was involved unhelpfully in two of the goals. The home side quickly cottoned on to the space behind our left-back and made very intelligent use of it . If they can do this, better teams will do so too. He isn't good enough. And neither was Tonge convincing on the right. He offered little going forward, is slow, and error-prone. In the first-half he totally mis-controlled the ball on the goal line just outside the penalty area, let the winger in and then had to pull him down to stop him getting into the area. It was all a bit embarrassing!! We will have no chance of being contenders this season with these two as full-backs.

Seabright seemed ok though gave away the free-kick when he should have put his foot through the ball and cleared it. He was given the whole game.
Macdonald seemed pretty steady too.
Downes had a bit of a nightmare and would have been sent off in a league game when he let Yetton spin off him and get through on goal. Downes didn't make too much contact but enough to allow Yetton to go down as he was about to get away. Downes was typically strong in the air and had a good header hit the top of the bar but he as was also pretty slow and lumbering at times.
Richards was quiet first half but came into the game in the second half and looks a good acquisition though he was getting frustrated at times with the lack of shape and support around him. He finished with a tasty chunk of Chris McPhee which got him a deserved booking but also showed that he likes to compete!
Harding was generally tidy though not very influential. He does have a lovely touch but should be making more impact on the game.
I liked Briscoe.
Yeoman and Benyon worked hard but were given very little decent service. It was either chase the hoofball or flick them on to no-one. Strange tactics.
Cameron was given free-kick and corner duties and used them quite well but ultimately didn't make a massive impression on the match although there was a flare-up with one of their players that would have probably been a red card in a league game as he grabbed their player by the throat.
About the 65 minute-mark the substitutions began to happen fairly frequently.

Ajala looked lively but didn't have enough time to really get involved.
Duane ? up front looked very very raw!!!
Hutchings was neat and tidy.
Sullivan too looked hungry and busy.
And Sam Chaney certainly looks like he could be something very good for the future.
Thompson at full-back also didn't look very convincing.

A little wake-up call for us that this season might be much tougher than we are expecting?
Martin Rice / Bowman/ Luke Young/ Krystian Pearce not involved.