The Peacocks play their first National League South game in 23 days when they travel to Weymouth on Boxing Day, ko 3.00pm.

Not since the visit of Braintree to the Cygnet Health Care Stadium at the beginning of the month have Town engaged in League duty, having had two matches since then postponed due to frozen pitches. Tuesday’s victory at Slough saw the Peacocks eventually return to action after a two week hiatus and they will be eager to start building up some momentum as they attempt to play catch-up with their fixtures beginning with the trip into Dorset to take on the Terras for the first time in four years.

Weymouth were relegated from the National League last season and have not enjoyed the best of times so far as they lie in 22nd place with 18 points from their 21 games played. After picking up just two points from their opening 11 League matches, they gained their first win at Slough in October before reaching the 1st Round Proper of the FA Cup where they held AFC Wimbledon to a 1-1 draw at the Bob Lucas Stadium but bowed out in the replay. Form then started to pick up in the League, a run of four games unbeaten which included a 5-0 win at Tonbridge and 3-1 success at Worthing, finally ending with a 2-0 reverse at Dulwich Hamlet on Tuesday evening.

The Boxing Day game, which was switched to Weymouth after originally being scheduled to be at home, will prove a difficult test for the Peacocks then who have played between two and seven games fewer than other sides in the division. A run of positive results would see Town climb well up the table from their current slot of 17th as they aim to consolidate their position in their first season at Step 2. Head of Football Rob Dray commented:” After Tuesday’s fantastic Trophy result giving us a great tie at Torquay, we now experience a double header in the National League. Bobby has done a great job at Weymouth in a short space of time so as with relative local derbies, it’s about who turns up on the day. With our games in hand we realise the importance of picking up points as we look up and not down the table.”

Traveller Info

Ground: Bob Lucas Stadium, Radipole Lane, Weymouth, Dorset DT4 9XJ

Ground to Ground: 53.0 miles

Directions: From the A35 Dorchester By-pass, take the A354 towards Weymouth at the roundabout next to Dorchester Town FC. Approaching Weymouth at the first roundabout you come to, take the 2nd exit and follow the A354 ‘Town Centre’ signs. At the 2nd roundabout turn right for ‘Town Centre’. At the 3rd roundabout you will start to see the ‘Wessex Stadium’ signs. Take the 2nd exit keeping on the A354 and follow these signs. At the next roundabout, Chafeys, take the 3rd exit for B3157 and follow the signs for ‘Wessex Stadium’. You will start to see the Stadium in front of you. Take the 3rd exit at the next roundabout and into the stadium car park.

Admission: Adults £15, Concessions (Over 65’s, Armed Forces) £10, Student £7, Under 16’s £4, Under 7’s Free

Tickets can be purchased online in advance HERE. Please note this is an all-ticket fixture and segregation will be in place.

Last meeting: a crowd of 1461 watched the last meeting of the teams which came on 29th December 2018 in the Southern League Premier South. A see-saw game saw Rocky Neal give Town an early lead after 3 minutes before Weymouth overhauled the lead through goals from Emmanuel Odubade on 12 minutes and Ben Thomson on 18. Matt Buse equalised after 20 minutes, and Neal added a third on 52 minutes. However an Odubade penalty brought the scores level again seven minutes later to make it 3-3. Relive the match highlights HERE