“It is where the club needs to be.”
These are the words Ben Greenwood used when speaking about keeping Weymouth in the National League South this season.
The Terras currently sit bottom, 12 points from safety, with their last league win coming in early November.
I spoke to the 22-year-old about the season so far, his first senior goal, as well as what needs to be improved to maintain step 2 status.
Greenwood joined Weymouth in the summer of 2024, having left AFC Bournemouth after five years at the club.
Despite a mid-table finish last season, this term has been anything but.
“It hasn’t been a successful season so far. We have been in games but keep getting the wrong side of results. It is frustrating because we know the potential and performances are there.”
Greenwood mentioned what needs to be worked on and what has been going wrong so far this season:
“We need to stop giving silly goals away. The goals will come, but if we eradicate giving teams head starts that would be massive because we are competitive.”
“When we go through these spells, we need to manage better and improve on soaking up pressure. We need to remain composed and compact, then goals will come.”
The versatile defender and midfielder notched his first senior goal in a 2-3 defeat to Dorking Wanderers earlier this month:
“My main job hasn’t been scoring goals, but it is always nice to score. Unfortunately, it was bittersweet as we lost the game, but scoring my first men’s senior goal was amazing on a personal level.”
The left footed volley into the top corner stunned the Weymouth crowd.
“It wasn’t a bad strike! When I hit it, I knew it had a chance. It was to go 1-0 up so I was absolutely buzzing. I ran over to the crowd to celebrate. My instant reaction was delight that I could help and do my bit for the team.”
Greenwood has featured 17 times in the league so far this season, getting regular minutes under his belt.
His new manager Warren Feeney, who joined the club in December, is yet to pick up his first win for the club.
However, there are positive signs that the first win could be coming around soon:
“The gaffer has settled in now and has made it clear what he wants us to do and what he expects of us. He knows what he wants and has an appetite for winning, whilst having high demands too.”
“I have really enjoyed working with him so far and hopefully in the near future we can make some success stories with the club.”
Looking ahead, Greenwood highlighted want he wants to achieve for the rest of the season, both personally, and collectively:
“The biggest aim is to stay in the National League South. It is where the club needs to be. Personally, I want to play as many games as I can. I need to be performing in those games, helping the team stay up, which both come hand in hand.”
“If you are performing and ticking games off then hopefully the odds will favour you in getting positive results and results is what we need to stay up.”
But can Weymouth, do it? Greenwood thinks so:
“I think it is possible to stay up if we get on a good run and pick up points from teams around us. We know we can do this, especially with the group of players we have, but we keep coming up on the wrong end of it, and this needs to change.”
Greenwood and Weymouth welcome fellow relegation strugglers Enfield Town this weekend in one of their biggest games of the season so far.
Kick-off is at 3pm tomorrow afternoon at the Bob Lucas Stadium.
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