Chukki Eribenne grabbed a hat-trick as well-drilled Weymouth powered their way to a 3-1 win over a City side who grabbed a late lifeline through a Dave Sadler strike but were unable to reduce the deficit further despite a strong finish.

Josh Simpson’s illness forced Gary Roberts into his first outfield change in eight starts with Jamie Southon drafted into midfield at the expense of the teenager who took his place amongst the substitutes. With Alan Calton continuing to deputise for the suspended Danny Naisbitt this was the only change from the team which won 3-1 at Sittingbourne in the FA Trophy courtesy of goals from strike partners Paul Booth (2) and Robbie Simpson.

The Terras, undefeated in their last nine league games also booked a place in the First Round Proper of the Trophy with a 2-1 win over promotion rivals Havant, thanks to goals from Shaun Wilkinson and Craig O’Connor. Gary Hill made three changes to his starting eleven with Matt Bound, Steven Clark and Wilkinson making way for Roy O’Brien, Ian Hutchinson and Darren Wheeler respectively.

City started brightly as the temperature plummeted and with only two minutes on the clock the hosts had got behind the Terras defence as Robbie Simpson nodded the ball into the feet of Booth who angled an inviting pass into the path of Craig Dobson. The winger elected to shoot and flashed a fierce drive across the face of goal but failed to force a save from Jason Matthews.

As City continued to press Dobson moved infield to link up with Mark Molesley on the left. The former Hayes midfielder showed good strength to shield the ball and moved onto his right foot before dragging a low shot narrowly wide.

Having seen off the early threat Weymouth soon gained the upper hand. Passing purposefully and accurately they denied City any meaningful possession. The visitors worked the ball wide at every opportunity and Lee Chaffey was fully occupied with the influential Lee Elam.

Southon’s role as the holding midfielder was all but negated by the visitors’ tactics and without the attacking outlet of Josh Simpson in the centre of the park the Lilywhites found themselves penned in their own half for long, uneasy periods.

Almost inevitably this concerted pressure resulted in a goal. Lee Elam flighted in a right wing corner and the City backline, which up until that point had done a fine job in protecting Alan Calton, failed to pick up Kirk Jackson whose powerful downward header was hacked off the goal line but only as far as Eribenne who had the simple task of prodding home from close range.

City were unable to break free of the stranglehold as Weymouth continued to force them deeper and deeper. With little over half an hour played the visitors’ doubled their lead. Again the goal came from an Elam corner, the initial centre being partially cleared back to the same player whose near post cross was met by a thunderous Eribenne header, the former Havant striker showing great movement to loose his man and leave Alan Calton with no chance.

Whilst Weymouth did not press as hard for the remainder of the half they comfortably contained City and produced the only other chance of note when Simon Downer headed over the bar from an Andrew Harris free kick.

For those supporters who witnessed Garry Hill’s former charges Hornchurch in action at Milton Road fifteen months ago, there was a feeling of deja-vu about the opening forty five minutes.

Both teams made changes at the interval. For the hosts, Mark Molesley who had earlier been felled by an uncompromising Roy O’Brien challenge, was replaced by Josh Simpson and for the Terras, Steven Clark took the place of Lee Elam.

City started much more brightly, seeing plenty of the ball and playing more of the game in Weymouth territory. However, Booth and Simpson were starved of service and Jason Matthews wasn’t forced into making a save.

Having dealt with the attempted revival Weymouth put the game beyond doubt with a third goal shortly before the hour mark. Again a set piece was City’s undoing. On this occasion it was a free kick near to the goal line in the right back position. Having conceded twice from similar areas the Lilywhites’ defenders were sucked into protecting their goal. As a result when the initial delivery was headed away and fell to Downer at the far post he wasn’t closed down, which allowed him the time to play the ball back inside to Eribenne who finished from close range to complete his hat-trick.

Whilst Weymouth undoubtedly took their foot off the gas a little at this point City at last began to pose an offensive threat as the game entered its final thirty minutes. Josh Simpson, whose energy rejuvenated the midfield found Paul Booth whose angled header sent Robbie Simpson in behind the Terras’ back line. The striker hit a rising drive which Matthews palmed over the bar at the expense of a corner.

With Weymouth content to play on the break Eribenne continued to pose a significant threat, when the ball was worked inside from wide on the right on 68 minutes his shot on the turn fizzed narrowly wide of the target.

With twenty minutes remaining Gary Roberts introduced Dave Sadler, the first time last season’s top scorer has featured since the home game against Basingstoke on 10 September. Jamie Southon was the player withdrawn with Robbie Simpson dropping back into midfield as a result.

Within three minutes of his arrival Sadler had found the net. Robbie Simpson played the ball wide for Dobson who left Trevor Challis flat footed and accelerated into the corner before whipping in a near post centre which Sadler met with a powerful downward header. Matthews seemed to have the ball covered but somehow managed to let it slip first through his arms and then his legs and over the line.

Spurred on by this glimmer of hope City drove forward and Matt Langston crashed a header from Dobson’s corner narrowly over the bar.

There was to be no comeback however and Weymouth came closest to adding to the scoring when first Eribenne set up Jackson whose goal bound drive was deflected behind for a corner and then Taggart’s shot from a free kick awarded on the edge of the area had Alan Calton scrambling the ball behind for a corner.

City should take heart from the way they finished the game, at 3-0 down with a third of the match still remaining they could have gone down to a much heavier defeat. Despite being undone by three set pieces they defended well otherwise with both Matt Langston and Glen Fuff and the outstanding Craig Pope having fine games.

Weymouth’s performance in general and their goals in particular bore all the hallmarks of a full-time team and on this showing they should be capable of winning the league.

Having come through a succession of tough fixtures City will hope that they can pick up the results in their next few games which will see them well placed going into the New Year