Weymouth 1 (Touray ‘)
United 1 (Jude-Boyd 28′) It was honours even in Dorset on Saturday, as United played out a 1-1 draw with Weymouth. Arkell Jude-Boyd’s first goal for the Club gave United the advantage midway through the first half, before Ezio Touray levelled things up just before the break. Although both sides probed for a winner, neither were able to find one, as it ended all-square at the Bob Lucas Stadium. Following the 2-2 draw at home to Aveley last weekend, Interim Manager Aaron Downes made two changes to the side, with Jack Stobbs and Ollie Tomlinson returning to the starting line-up in place of Austen Booth and Ronny Nelson. United created a glorious chance just two minutes in. Kevin Dawson’s break into the Weymouth half ended with Brad Ash receiving the ball on the right hand-side of the penalty area, however the former Terra could only drag his low drive wide of the far post. Four minutes later, the action shifted up to the other end, as Leo Hambli warmed the palms of Mark Halstead, who got down low to gather his 15-yard strike at the foot of his right post. A nip-and-tuck encounter ensued, before The Gulls delighted their travelling supporters with the opening goal.
Ash’s hard work was the catalyst for Stobbs to make a run down the right flank, before sending in an inviting cross into the box. With United’s usual goalscoring suspects stationed elsewhere, Jude-Boyd seized upon the opportunity by forcing his way into the box, before winning his individual duel to steer the ball into the net from eight yards. The Yellow Army – magnificent in both their number and noise, celebrated wildly at the opposite end. Downes’ side were largely untroubled for the remainder of the half, and therefore it was disappointing when the home side drew level just a minute before the break. A deep free-kick from the left was floated deep into The Gulls’ box, and although Touray still had plenty to do, his looping header back across goal looped inside the far post to make it 1-1. Following the change of ends though, it was initially the men in yellow who were on the front foot. Twice Aaron Jarvis went close to put his side back in front, with a bullet header from a corner forcing a remarkable save from debutant ‘keeper Wiles-Richards, before a last-gasp block prevented him steering a near-post delivery home shortly after.
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