Weymouth 1-5 Bath City: Romans smash five past Terras

Thomson 34

BATH CITY 5

Frear 16, 60, Wilson 31, Thomas 36, Cooke 90

WEYMOUTH were outclassed 5-1 by Bath City on a miserable night at the Bob Lucas Stadium.

The Romans had too much verve in attack for the Terras and led 3-1 at half-time as Elliott Frear, Scott Wilson and Jordan Thomas goals swamped Ben Thomson’s blockbuster from 30 yards.

Frear added a second on the hour and Calvin Brooks was dismissed for two bookable offences before Cody Cooke’s header capped a forgettable evening for the Terras, who saw their home four-game unbeaten streak abruptly halted.

Weymouth manager Bobby Wilkinson made two changes to the side that began the 1-1 draw with Welling United on Saturday.

READ MORE: Weymouth 1-5 Bath City - how it happened

Ben Winterburn missed out from the squad completely, while Dan Roberts dropped to the bench.

Moe Shubbar earned his first start in a Weymouth shirt, while Brandon Goodship was recalled to the starting line-up.

Moe Shubbar earned his first start in five appearances for the Terras (Image: MARK PROBIN)

On the bench, Elliott Bolton, Leo Hamblin and Charlie Rowan all returned and Ezio Touray retained his place to join Roberts, with Anthony Cheshire and Joel Rollinson omitted from the squad.

Bath, looking for their second win at Weymouth this season after their 2-1 FA Cup win, settled the quicker and centre-half Jordan Dyer should have hit the target with a free header from a corner in the fifth minute.

Seconds later, Wilson was slotted through in the left channel and fizzed a low shot at goal, Jared Thompson getting a strong hand in to palm clear.

Weymouth’s first chance to attack saw Keelan O’Connell intercept a loose pass, although his cutback was then telegraphed by Dyer.

Bath continued to look dangerous and in the tenth minute had a goal ruled out for offside as ex-Terras striker Cody Cooke pounced on Thompson’s parry of Wilson’s 20-yarder.

Shubbar responded with a wicked curler that swerved just wide of the target but Bath were soon ahead in the 16th minute.

Dan Hayfield swept a booming low pass into Frear’s feet and the winger had time to pick his spot, rifling a sweet left-footed shot into the far corner.

Bath looked in confident mood following the goal as Hayfield thumped a volley wide, although Shubbar had the Romans’ defence worried with a devilish cross that proved just too strong for a teammate.

Yeovil loanee keeper Will Buse then intercepted a menacing Teddy Howe cross with Tom Bearwish lurking, his efforts rewarded when Bath promptly went 2-0 up.

Thomas picked out Frear at the back post and his attempt bounced off the post, falling kindly for Wilson to bundle home despite Thompson’s best efforts.

Weymouth’s response was strong, Goodship heading just wide from O’Connell’s shot, and the Terras pulled a goal back on 34 minutes.

The goal was all of Thomson’s making as he spotted Buse off his line and spectacularly took aim from 30 yards, blasting home a volley in off the bar and over the whitewash.

Ben Thomson, second left, is congratulated after scoring a spectacular long-range volley (Image: MARK PROBIN)

However, Bath restored their two-goal cushion just two minutes later as Thomas danced past two tackles and clinically slotted into the far corner.

A minority of fans booed Weymouth off at half-time but the Terras replied positively in the second half as Goodship’s low free-kick forced a fabulous flying stop from Buse.

Brandon Goodship, right, twice went close for Weymouth (Image: MARK PROBIN)

Weymouth then needed tenacious defending from Calvin Brooks, whose presence caused Hayfield to scuff wide after rounding Thompson, to prevent 4-1.

Wilkinson opted to remove Shubbar for Roberts but instead Bath extended their lead on the hour, Wilson chasing a lost cause near the byline and pulling back for the unmarked Frear to plant a volley home.

Weymouth’s night began to unravel further when Hayfield struck a free-kick over, although the visitors escaped a calamity at the back when Danny Greenslade and Buse somehow went unpunished for poor passes.

Adding insult to injury, Weymouth were reduced to ten men when Brooks picked up his second booking for a professional foul, preventing a Bath counter.

Bath were fully in control now and Hayfield wildly flailed a shot wide on 88 minutes, before Cooke grabbed a late headed goal against his former employers, steering home a Chris Lines cross with embarrassing ease.

Terras: Ja Thompson, Howe, Brooks, Jo Thompson, Sesay, Durojaiye, Bearwish, Goodship, O'Connell (Rowan 78), Shubbar (Roberts 54), Thomson (Touray 74). Subs not used: Bolton, Hamblin.

Bath: Buse, Greenslade, Dyer (Raynes 46), Batten, Parselle, Hayfield, Cooke, Frear (Clark 72), Thomas, Wilson (Lines 78), Russe. Subs not used: Morgan, Smith.

Referee: Samuel Read.

Attendance: 742