MOLESLEY’S BIG RETURN GREETED BY LATE WINNER
AN own goal two minutes into stoppage time from Weymouth’s Brandon Goodship ensured Aldershot Town claimed all three points – and gave manager Mark Molesley a happy homecoming.
Molesley was visiting the Bob Lucas Stadium for the first time since guiding Weymouth to back-to-back promotions.
And he went home happy after Goodship miscued a volleyed clearance into the net to complete a classic smash-and-grab raid.
“Turning up in the coach, I’d be lying if I said I didn’t feel emotional,” Molesley said. “Those players and my staff are heroes to the club.
“It was a really hard fought win against a quality outfit who keep the ball well.
“Fortunately enough we found the breakthrough. We had the clearer opportunities in a tough game.”
Both sides struggled to find their feet in the early exchanges but it was the Terras who settled the quicker and carved out the first chance of the game in the 17th minute. Omar Mussa opened up the midfield with a through pass to captain Josh McQuoid who in turn dragged a pass across the box which was met by an incoming Tom Bearwish. The midfielder took a touch before striking the shot, however the ball was wide of Mitch Walker’s near post.
Weymouth were looking the stronger side in attack, and had another chance to break the deadlock ten minutes later. Cam Murray played in QPR loanee Aaron Drewe on the right, he managed to evade a challenge and dink the ball into the area from the byline but the ball lifted narrowly onto the roof of the net.
The Shots created little in the opening half but it didn’t take them long to threaten after the break – Tommy Willard trying his luck from 25 yards out just seconds into the restart, but was collected easily by Ross Fitzsimons.
Aldershot fans thought their side had broken the deadlock three minutes later when left back Toby Edser’s first time volleyed cross with his left boot smacked against Fitzsimons upright.
Weymouth hit back and went close again on the hour when Ahkeem Rose crossed for Goodship at the back post but his header went wide.
The visitors provided much of the pressure in the final ten minutes and made it pay deep into added time. Mikael Ndjoli was fouled by Bearwish and whipped in the resulting set piece. The ball floated towards the back post and was volleyed in by Brandon Goodship.
Weymouth are now ten matches without a win and new manager David Oldfield said: “It is hard to take but it’s about what happens next.
“There’s no way that Aldershot deserved to win the game, I’m not sure we did enough to win either but we didn’t deserve to lose.”