Weymouth 0 Cheshunt 0
December 3rd 2022
Attendance 764
Play began on a bitterly cold afternoon & Weymouth initially looked the more dangerous side as Nathan Carlyle flicked a header at Ambers keeper Adam Desbois. Tom Blair caught a volleyed a long way over, then Cheshunt announced themselves into the match when captain Joe Re hit a 30-yard shot at Zaki Oualah.
The Ambers grew in confidence & threatened again as Chris Harris sent a low shot at Oualah and Reece Beckles-Richards stretched the Weymouth keeper with a low shot to his left. Cheshunt were finding joy with the aerial route through Harris winning his challenges, even collecting his own knock-down on one occasion, only to scuff his shot wide with more time than perhaps he knew.
Weymouth finished the half strongly but the Ambers defence stood firm, especially down their left hand side where O Connell was finding space to run at debutant Tom Dickens, Ahkeem Rose blazed a free-kick into orbit for the home after Dickens had pulled the winger back, receiving a yellow card for his misdemeanour.
The Ambers replaced their left-back at the break to avoid Weymouth targeting him, the impressive Isaac Pitblado his replacement.
O’Connell was at the centre of the action in the second half, bending an effort comfortably over and then earning a yellow for shoving a Cheshunt defender, sparking an 18-man fracas, where Zack Newton also caught the referee’s eye & picked up a card.
Cheshunt dominated the second half, with Weymouth getting out of their own half on an occasional basis, only to run into Lewis Hobbs & Raul Da Silva in the heart of the Ambers defence.
With three points there for the taking if either side could raise their level, Cheshunt seemed the more likely and went close when the hard working Manny Maja warmed Oualah’s hands with a fierce low shot from 30 yards. With Pitblado raiding down the left & Newton & Beckles Richards running at defenders Weymouth resorted niggly fouls to break up play & the Amber momentum, Cheshunt should really have capitalised on some of these free kicks, often creating opportunities in the box, only to see the Weymouth defence throw themselves in the way of shots to deflect away from goal.
Cheshunt can be pleased with a point away and a clean sheet, but will consider three points were available with cleaner strikes for more clinical finishing. Weymouth remain bottom & Cheshunt move above Hungerford Town.
