Ahkeel Rose netted twice as Weymouth defeated Dulwich Hamlet 2-1 on Saturday at the Bob Lucas Stadium.
Ahkeel Rose netted twice as Weymouth defeated Dulwich Hamlet 2-1 on Saturday at the Bob Lucas Stadium.
The Jamaican-born forward proved the decisive player on a breezy Saturday afternoon in Dorset, with the assistance of Tom Blair and Bradley Ash.
The pair fired pinpoint accurate low crosses to the in-form striker at two key moments in the game, against a disjointed Dulwich Hamlet side who have now conceded 18 goals in their previous six matches.
However, the opening 20 minutes suggested the result could have been different, with the South London side dominating, as shown with Johl Powell’s early opener.
Despite The Hamlet’s early promise, Bobby Wilkinson’s side ultimately grew into the game, holding on for a 2-1 win which now sees The Terras move up to 22nd in the National League South table, one point from safety.
Meanwhile, Paul Barnes sees his team slowly slide down the table, having now lost their previous four matches.
Both sides had made alterations to their previous starting 11 before the match, Jamie Egan being the sole change for the hosts, in place for Luke Jenkins.
Meanwhile, the visitors had made three changes from their outing versus Eastbourne Borough, one of them being debutant Dominic Odusanya, whose signing from Maidstone United was announced by the club on Friday.
The sides additionally entered Saturday’s contest in contrasting moods. Weymouth welcomed the visitors following an emphatic display against Hampton & Richmond, beating the South-West London side two goals to one.
Dulwich, however, were entering the match looking to end a leaky run of 16 goals conceded in their previous FIVE matches.
The match began as a cagey affair, with neither of the two teams displaying dominance in the game’s opening minutes.
However, despite the visitors’ recent shoddy form, they opened the scoring within six minutes, Powell heading in an open net after the initial rebound from a helpless Zaki Oualah, making it 1-0 to Barnes’ side.
The Terras’ lacklustre defending marks a change in defensive solidity from their display on Tuesday night, where Wilkinson had been pleased with his team “showing both sides” of a good performance.
Powell could have added his second five minutes on, had his tame shot not rolled straight into the hands of 22-club journeyman Oualah.
Wilkinson’s side may have levelled in the 16th minute if it were not for a case of selfless tracking back from the visitors’ top scorer Danny Mills.
Mills, who is also the club’s Diversity & Inclusion Officer, justified his high regard as a leader by bravely blocking any opportunity for Bradley Ash to draw his side level.
Weymouth’s opening 20 minutes was a far cry from the positivity which they had shown against Hampton & Richmond, where they had been considered unfortunate to only be leading by one goal.
However, the contrast could not have been clearer on Saturday, failing to create any clear cut chances against a defence not known for their solidity.
The more threatening chances continued to be created by Barnes’ side. Oualah may have had a lot more work to do if Will Wood’s low-driven free-kick had not been fired just wide of the post.
If that wasn’t concerning enough for Wilkinson, Egan’s awkward first touch fell straight to the feet of the increasingly threatening Mills 26 minutes in.
The 19-year-old was fortunate to have the in-form Oualah come to his rescue, rushing out of his goal to clear the ball safely.
The Terras’ fortunes looked to have changed with a penalty awarded on the half hour mark, with referee Ross Martin having judged Blair to have been brought down just inside the 18-yard box.
However, the optimism was to be short lived, Ash seeing his weak spot kick straightforwardly saved by Charlie Grainger.
Fortunately for the hosts, their luck changed with an equaliser five minutes on, Terras’ top scorer Rose calmly slotting in from close range.
Blair, arguably Weymouth’s most dangerous player in the opening half, showed further attacking intent in the buildup to the goal, firing a dangerous low cross to Rose from the left hand side.
It appeared that Rose’s equaliser was what Wilkinson’s side were crying out for, growing in confidence in the final 10 minutes of the first half.
Martin handed his first booking of the game to Odasanya four minutes before halftime, following a reckless foul near the halfway line.
The debutant’s booking was arguably a sign that the visitors were less dominant compared to the opening 20 minutes, with their wayward passes being rapidly intercepted by The Terras.
However, with the indicated stoppage time being just two minutes, Weymouth were unable to capitalise on The Hamlet’s increasing errors.
The first half ended with mixed emotions for both sides. The visitors had started the game much the better side, as proved with their early opener.
However, The Terras’ surge in attacking play was perhaps an indicator that the hosts would end Saturday's game winning their second on the bounce.
The first opportunity of the second half came from The Hamlet, with Odusanya firing a low-driven shot wide of Oualah’s net.
But, as with the game’s opening minutes, both teams appeared cautious, perhaps wary of the other side’s already-shown ability to terrorise their defence.
Neither of the visitors’ two chances in the second half’s opening 10 minutes appeared to pose any warning to Oualah, who appeared to poke fun at Odusanya with an overdramatic attempt to block his shot, which looked to have already gone wide.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, it was Weymouth who took the lead, after Rose poked his second into an open net, making it 2-1 to The Terras.
This time it was Ash who assisted the Jamaican-born forward with his second of the game, delivering a pinpoint accurate low cross towards the far post.
For Barnes, his side now had to make sure his leaky defence, who had now conceded their 51st goal of the season, did not allow the in-form number 9 to have any more opportunities.
Barnes looked to rectify his team’s struggling second half performance, introducing Andre Blackman for Ronnie Vint just after the hour mark.
One would argue that the Dulwich gaffer was hoping the versatile player would instil confidence into both his defence and attack.
The visitors were perhaps unfortunate not to grab an equaliser in the 64th minute, with Joe Felix firing just wide on the edge of the 18-yard box.
The visitors made their second tactical change four minutes on, with Krasniqi replacing Cameron Thompson, who had a quiet game.
Kosovan-born Krasniqi, who is equally as versatile as his fellow substitute, has featured for a total of 13 clubs throughout his career.
It would be Weymouth’s turn to make a substitution as the game entered its final 20 minutes, with Nahum Melvin-Lambert coming on for AFC Bournemouth loanee Chris Francis.
Melvin-Lambert, who had yet to feature for The Terras before his introduction on Saturday, joined the Dorset outfit on Friday from EFL Championship side Reading.
The next opportunity came for the visitors, goalscorer Johl Powell attempting a curling shot past Oualah in the 74th minute.
Wilkinson appeared to notice the opposition’s potential danger in the game’s final 15 minutes, bellowing instructions to his players, who had to force the ball behind multiple times for a succession of corner kicks.
Fortunately, the ball was finally cleared by star player Rose to the other end of the pitch, ending a period of anguish for The Terras.
This time it would be the hosts to enjoy a series of corner kicks as the match was into its final 10 minutes.
However, like their opponents, they were unable to capitalise on their opportunity, which could have extended their lead to two goals.
Weymouth’s task of holding onto their lead would become more difficult in the final few minutes of regular time, Scott Rees being forced off with what appeared to be a knock sustained near the corner flag.
To add defensive stability for The Terras, versatile Matt Buse was introduced to see out the final few minutes for Wilkinson’s side.
However, one could argue that the newly-introduced player was fortunate to stay on the pitch with a needless challenge near the final third of the pitch.
Despite the fourth official’s indication of six, minutes added time neither of the two sides could do enough to alter the scoreline, which ended 2-1 to The Terras.
For Wilkinson, he continues to see a resurrection in his side’s recent form, winning two in as many games following five successive losses.
Meanwhile, The Hamlet head back to South London having now lost their previous four matches, falling victim to a resurgent Terras.