Weymouth 1 Chesterfield 1

 

Ahkeem Rose’s first goal for Weymouth, coming in the 98th minute of time, meant that the Terras held back high-flying Chesterfield.

By Alfie Lumb

Chesterfield started playing the ball around at a high tempo and had their first shot on target in just the 4th minute. Emmanuel Oyeleke poked the ball through to Liam Mandeville who unleashed a shot on goal first time towards goal, but Ross Fitzsimons did well to parry the ball away to his left.

With the game flowing, Weymouth executed their first shot 2 minutes later. Tom Bearwish received the ball on the left and found Dan Smith in space outside the box. The debutant took a touch before hitting a low driven shot to the keepers right. Scott Loach had time to react and got down well to make the save.

The away side were through on goal again in the 12th minute. This time it was Jim Kellerman, charging down the right before firing a powerful effort at Ross Fitzsimons near post. The Terras keeper rushed down well to deny the strike however Kabongo Tshimanga was there to follow up. The striker drove the ball goal bound however Fitzsimons was there again to provide the double save.

A good spell for Weymouth saw the home side draw a succession of corners and hold all the possession. Eventually, Forest Green loanee, Harvey Bunker, took on a low shot from range but Loach was there again to save.

Both goalkeepers were being pushed hard and yet again, Fitzsimons was called into action, this time in the 24th minute. A quick free kick saw Akwasi Asante turn past Haji Mnoga to give the forward a sight on goal. The number 9 opened up his body to strike the ball into the far corner, but Fitzsimons stretched to parry the ball away to his left.

Weymouth had the next chance in this back and forth fixture. The Terra’s fifth corner of the game, taken by Sean Shields in the 29th minute was cleared only as far as Omar Mussa on the edge on the area. Mussa took a touch then shot the ball across the face of goal, but Spireites captain Jamie Grimes put his body in the way to clear the chance.

Tom Bearwish was the next to have an opportunity on goal. The ball bounced up nicely for the midfielder, who took the shot on the half volley, with the ball going wide of Loach’s left post.

Chesterfield came out of the blocks in the second half the fastest, and the side were through on goal within the first 3 minutes. Mandeville this this time played the ball through to Tshimanga, who cut the ball across the face of goal, however Weymouth players managed to clear their lines.

The Spireites had another chance in the 62nd minute, this time from centre back, Alex Whittle. The defender found himself with space in the area following a run but his shot was blocked well by Haji Mnoga before Cordner cleared the danger.

Weymouth were being put under the kosh, but managed to break away in the 65th minute, this time through Omar Mussa. The midfielder charged into the final third and laid the ball to Shields on the left. The winger cut in so as to strike with his right boot but the ball curled up and over the crossbar.

Finally, the deadlock was broken in the 70th minute. Whittle again pushed forward and took on a shot at the near post. Fitzsimons, attempted to parry the ball away, but instead the ball went through the keepers arms, rolling into the net.

With their tails up, the Spireites were hungry for more, with Saidou Khan having the next opportunity. The substitute ran through the side with ease and had time in the area, however his final shot was tame and straight at Fitzsimons.

There was to be a large amount of added time due to an injury on Kabongo Tshimanga following a strong tackle from Haji Mnoga. The Terras defender was seen to get the ball but the Chesterfield forward was down for 7 minutes.

Twelve minutes of added time were signalled by the fourth official. Five minutes into added time, substitute Ahkeem Rose was brought down in the area by Kerr, however the referee waved play on.

The Terras made their pressure count in the end, scoring the equaliser in 98th minute of play. The substitutes linked up well as Brandon Goodship, playing on the left slid the ball into Rose who was free on the far side of the box. The striker took on the first shot, however Loach made the save but the ball came back out to Rose, who took a touch before striking it beyond the reach of Loach.

The Spireites had a corner in the final seconds of added time, but Fitzsimons plucked the ball out of mid air, securing the Terras a point.