AFC STONEHAM 3

WEYMOUTH RESERVES 2

A MIXED Weymouth Reserves line-up came unstuck at AFC Stoneham, but they gave the Sydenhams Wessex One top-five side a good test at the Elliots Arena.

Ravaged by injuries and unavailability, boss Bradley Asagba needed all his recruitment skills to head into the clash with a competitive side.

And the Terras put up a decent fight, levelling twice before an own goal in the second half proved the difference between the two sides.

From the previous week, Weymouth were without the likes of Craig Michie, Sean Stewart and Tiago Sa.

Boss Asagba told Echosport: “It was one of those where, at one point, we were wondering what kind of team we were going to put out because of injuries and unavailability.

“We were terribly short on numbers and it looked like it could have been a bit of a bleak trip to Stoneham.

“To be fair, as it turned out, with the players we managed to draft in and with getting some injured players playing through it, it turned out alright.

“It could have been a whole lot worse.”

The Terras got off to a dreadful start with Stoneham’s first goal coming inside the opening five minutes, however, they did manage to get back on level terms.

Dom Panesar-Dower, who was on the bench for the first team in the FA Trophy last week, converted a penalty after he was felled in the box.

But hosts Stoneham struck back just before the break to make it 2-1 – taking advantage of a situation where the Terras were temporarily left a man short through injury.

Sanchez Jansz-Baker got the away side back on level terms in the second period but it was to be a Weymouth own goal that decided the encounter. From a corner, the ball was headed into the Terras’ net by a visiting defender.

Asagba also felt his side had two clear shouts for a penalty turned down in the latter stages and, in his opinion, felt some big calls went against his side.

“From my perspective, I think the effort from my side was there and they did what they could,” he said.

“I think my biggest disappointment, and I don’t like to say it, was the performance of the officials.

“With players at all levels, they make mistakes and the hope is they make less mistakes the higher they go. That’s the same for the officials.

“You walk into a match and you know it’s a given that officials will make a mistake.

“What you do hope though is that the mistakes that they make don’t lead to goals or the result.”