Match report from Peter Wilson (dictated over the telephone to Brian Edge)

Weymouth 1 (Bevon 63)  v    1   VICS (Allan 80)

VICS drew for only the second time in the Conference this season and whilst it was a fully justified point it may have come at a terrible price because the “fans favourite” Jonny Allan was stretchered off with as suspected broken leg.

Manager Burr reverted to a 4-41 formation for the game and brought back Battersby and Elliott to fill the full back roles whilst Roca was in the starting line up for only the fifth time in the league this season.

The first half was a solid affair with the honours equal and whilst the half ended goal less there were quite a few chances for both sides. Vickers had the first chance of the half for the home side but headed narrowly wide from a corner and the almost immediately afterwards VICS broke well and the attack finished with a shot from Allan being well saved.

On 10 minutes Roca did well to beat two men and then partially lost the ball but managed to set Allan up for another strike on goal but the effort was again well saved.

As the game progressed VICS were defending quite comfortably apart from set pieces when the back four and Connett struggled to clear and looked most uneasy.

However, on 19 minutes some sterling defending prevented the opening goal as on three occasions in the space of seconds, goal bound shots were all well blocked by excellent tackles.

VICS suffered their first blow of the afternoon when after 20 minutes Roberts left the field with an injury and was replaced by Griffiths.

The remainder of the half was very even but after Crittenden had headed a good chance over and Coutts had started to get the better of Elliott on a few occasions it looked as though Weymouth might have a lot more to offer in the second half.

Almost inevitably the home side came out with earnest after the break and immediately took the game to VICS with Logan cleverly engineering a chance for himself but he shot narrowly wide with Connett well beaten.

Then on 51 minutes Brayson set up a chance for Roca but his shot was dragged wide.

On 62 minutes Weymouth should have opened the scoring when they were awarded a penalty. A cross into the box seemed to be handled by Griffiths but to the relief of Vics players and supporters Logan completely missed the target from 12 yards!

The relief however was short lived because just one minute later a goal did arrive when a cross was headed down by Dutton and Charnock completely misjudged it allowing BEVON to score. In truth it was a very poor piece of defending.

On 72 minutes Allan should have equalised following a mix up in the home defence but the striker failed to capitalise on the mistake.

Smart had replaced Roca after 69 minutes and VICS’ third substitute of the afternoon was made after 74 minutes when Townson replaced Beaumont. Gradually VICS were beginning to dominate proceedings and the forages forward looked more and more promising and indeed so it proved when after 80 minutes the deserved equaliser duly arrived courtesy of Jonny ALLAN who drilled the ball home following a knock down.

However just two minutes later and Jonny suffered a cruel injury when he and Ashley Vickers tangled after both going for the same ball. There did not appear to be any malice in the tackle and Vickers could be considered unfortunate to receive a yellow card and, being his second of the game, he was sent off. Jonny was stretched off and taken to hospital and likely to be detained overnight.

This loss appeared to spur VICS on and Townson could quite easily have won the game for VICS in the closing second but, after being set up by Carr, his attempt was a poor one.

Man of the Match – Gareth Griffiths