WEYMOUTH 2

Cooke 38, Whelan 86 pen

KING’S LYNN 1

Marriott 53

WEYMOUTH took their first win of the Vanarama National League campaign with a dramatic 2-1 triumph over King’s Lynn at the Bob Lucas Stadium.

Cody Cooke put Weymouth ahead before Adam Marriott levelled after the break.

Marriott saw a penalty saved by Jack Bycroft and Rory McAuley was sent off for a headbutt on Brennan Camp in a fractious finale.

Linnets’ sub Ross Barrows then handballed Sean Shields’ cross, leaving Weymouth’s Tom Whelan to comfortably convert and seal a much-needed three points.

Weymouth made just one change to their starting line-up from Tuesday's 1-0 loss at Barnet.

Shields came in for Shamir Mullings, who had no place in the matchday squad due to a hamstring strain. 

With Weymouth yet to win or score before the clash, the onus was on the hosts to make all the attacking running.

However, King’s Lynn - who like Weymouth are fresh from back-to-back promotions - made the brighter start in the opening 10 minutes, winning two corners which came to nothing.

Weymouth responded when Calvin Brooks span past his marker and crossed for Cooke, the striker denied a touch by a superb flicked header.

King’s Lynn continued their assault from corners – looking to expose Weymouth’s faults at set-pieces this season – and nearly found a crack with a shaky moment for Bycroft.

Weymouth’s loanee goalkeeper punched the delivery tamely and the ball back in located Marriott, whose shot was smothered as Bycroft recovered just in time.

Josh Leslie-Smith slid in to earn the game’s first yellow, conceding a free-kick on the right fringe of the penalty area from which Michael Clunan curled straight out of play.

King’s Lynn defender McAuley then went into the book, hauling down Brooks after a clever lofted ball from Camp.

Ollie Harfield could not find a Weymouth player from the delivery but that was to matter little when he supplied an assist seconds later.

Harfield and Shields combined on the left and the former’s chipped cross to the back post picked out Cooke, who had plenty to do.

Losing his balance and faced with an acute angle, Cooke prodded home from six yards under pressure to claim Weymouth’s first goal in 488 minutes of competitive football.

Before half-time, Weymouth defender Corey Jordan was involved in a flashpoint down by the near left-hand corner flag as Marriott bundled him into the barriers, provoking a shove in retaliation from Jordan.

Both players escaped unpunished by referee Tom Bishop as Weymouth earned a rare first-half lead before threatening to build on it early in the second half.

Brooks created the chance by himself, twisting, turning and spinning into the box before scuffing his shot across the six-yard line.

There were no problems in execution in the 53rd minute for King’s Lynn, however.

Ryan Jarvis carved open Weymouth’s defence with a marvellous incisive ball to release Clunan into the box and Marriott was on hand to tap in his simple pass from six yards to cap a lovely goal.

King’s Lynn went close to a second when Aaron Jones’ firm shot was blocked by Bycroft and by that time Weymouth boss Brian Stock saw enough to replace Leslie-Smith with Jack Hoey.

The attacking change did little to stem King’s Lynn’s attacking and the visitors won a soft penalty in the 73rd minute when Brooks was adjudged to have brought down Marriott.

Up stepped the striker in search of his brace, but a firm shot was repelled by Southampton loanee Bycroft who flew sharply to his right to push the spot-kick clear.

Three minutes later Weymouth clattered the post as Shields’ first-time shot from Cooke’s lay-off went unrewarded.

And a moment of madness from McAuley set in motion a chain of events that led to Weymouth’s victory.

Retreating from an attack, McAuley dipped his head into Camp’s chest and, although missed by the referee, the incident was spotted by the linesman as McAuley saw yellow for a second time.

Adjusting, King’s Lynn made a triple change and, having been on the pitch for only 15 seconds, Ross Barrows gave away a penalty for handball when blocking Shields’ cross.

With five minutes to go, sub Tom Whelan slotted home the spot-kick confidently into the bottom-right corner, sending Linnets’ keeper Archie Mair the wrong way.

A frustrated King’s Lynn were cautioned three times in the closing stages as Weymouth held out for their first three points of the season.

Terras: Bycroft, Camp, Jordan, Wakefield, McCarthy (Whelan 77), Leslie-Smith (Hoey 63), Robinson, Brooks, Cooke, Harfield, Shields. Subs not used: Benfield, Santos, Anderson.

King's Lynn: Mair, Jones, Brown, Smith, McAuley, Clunan, Richards, Marriott (Carey 83), Jarvis (Barrows 84), King (Power 84), Southwell. Subs not used: Barker, Kelly.

Referee: Tom Bishop