WEYMOUTH 4 BOURNEMOUTH II 1

MAN-of-the-match Matt Lawes scored twice as Weymouth saw off Bournemouth Seconds in their first Hampshire Area Division One match of 2015.

Victory was sweet for the hosts after Bournemouth had beaten them 4-2 in a controversial en-counter back in October.

Weymouth fielded a young team with Aaron Wilkinson and Ben Skidmore coming in for Andrew Stiles and Roland Gill, while player-coach Christopher Fry was absent due to other hockey commitments and David Eames played only his second game for the first XI.

Crucially, Michael Westlake and Matthew Underhill returned to the centre of defence after injury and a long holiday respectively.

Both teams had scoring chances in a goalless first half, Patrick May going close for Weymouth from a couple of penalty corners.

Unfortunately, the Seasiders lost forward Luke Drewitt to injury early on.

The hosts were confident of breaking the deadlock when the second period got underway and Lawes provided the opening goal after a penalty corner was awarded for a foul on captain Simon Harvey.

It was 2-0 soon after when Wilkinson scored his first goal for the side, deflecting in a May pass following a quick break out of defence.

However, Bournemouth halved the deficit with 15 minutes left.

Weymouth had been relatively untroubled until a fine piece of skill allowed the visitors’ standout player to round keeper David Civil and beat Westlake on the line.

But thanks to Lawes, the subsequent period of anxiety was kept fairly short.

Underhill picked out May with a deft reverse sweep, he found Steven Membury in the circle, before Lawes slotted accurately past the keeper.

The Seasiders’ fitness was now proving too much for the tiring visitors and the fourth goal came from yet another break at speed.

Scorer Daniel Bowles started the move from his own defensive circle and his decision to follow play up the pitch was rewarded.

Lawes carried into the circle, cut back to Bowles in space and he struck a sweet shot into the top right corner.

Weymouth travel to Salisbury today knowing a win would see them climb to a season-high position of third.

Man of the match: Matt Lawes