WEYMOUTH missed the chance to go one point behind Taunton Town with defeat to Basingstoke at the weekend.

But what can the Terras take away from the 2-1 loss? Aidan Williams is on hand to guide you through five things we learned from Weymouth’s battle with Basingstoke.

CROWD PLEASERS

IT FEELS odd to write this for a team that has only lost twice at home in the league so far this season, but the fans rarely sound pleased at the minute and it might be affecting the team.

Weymouth’s away form, across five, 10 or 14 (having played 12) matches is a steady second best in the table.

Yet their home form is slipping, badly. Out of all the teams’ last five games in the league Weymouth are 15th, make that 10 games and they jump to 10th, make it 14 games and they rise to fifth so it is a pretty notable slump.

After the second goal for Basingstoke, Weymouth looked really rattled and I’m not surprised. Much of the match, until the performance picked up late on, was a series of increasing groans and shouts from the crowd.

When their backs are up against the wall it will not be the fans they look towards for energy, and that’s a problem.

INJURY TIME

IT SEEMS every other match there is a new injury to contend with at the minute, this week it was the turn of Harry Baker and Jordan Ngalo to leave the field due to knocks sustained.

A squad that is already heavily dented with this issue is only getting worse, but without ever being really long term (barring Josh McQuoid and Warren Bentley) however, Weymouth have not sought any replacements to alleviate it. It’s misfortune at its cruel worst, but it’s a recurring theme.

IT’S A LONG SHOT

WEYMOUTH nearly went the entire match without scoring, for what would have been the first time in the league this season.

Given the sheer number of them it was surprising that not one of the numerous shots from the edge of the box came off for the Terras.

It frequently ended chances prematurely and it just screamed that the team were missing Ben Thomson.

Thomson’s busy work getting at the opposition defence, provoking a mistake and creating opportunities to get beyond the defence was sorely missed.

The man in form Baker did a good job in the first half of replicating this, but his injury was yet another blow to the Terras.

AESOP’S TABLE

TAUNTON might have raced ahead, and they still look in a good position for the title. Yet Weymouth, despite the defeat, can still slowly overtake them via games in hand.

The message to be gained from it is clear: Weymouth don’t need to panic, it is still in their hands, slow and steady will win this race.

Things need to turn around sooner rather than later, as Taunton’s results have matched Weymouth where the Peacocks could be well and truly out of sight by now.

But that is football, manic, mad and glorious – it is not panic stations yet.

IT’S THE LITTLE THINGS

TWO games in a row now at home the opposition have ensured that Weymouth switch sides prior to the match and so attack their favoured end in the first half instead of the second.

Now this clearly didn’t halt Weymouth in the first half, as they actually came out of the traps pretty fast.

Yet Weymouth have proved their ability to come back late on in matches, so to rob them of their favoured end if the chips are down is a smart move, and one that other teams are noticing.